Josh Barnett says Lesnar is using MMA as leverage to sign with WWE

Former UFC champion Josh Barnett took to Twitter and chimed in on the possible return of Brock Lesnar. Barnett knows a thing or two about both the MMA and pro wrestling industries, and he knows a thing or two about free agency, having fought for all of the top organizations in mixed martial arts.

So you have to respect his opinion on what Lesnar is doing. Then again, perhaps there is more to this Lesnar back to MMA rumour than Barnett knows about.

Brock Lesnar is not going back to the UFC or to any fight organizations. He's going to re-sign with the WWE and use free agency for leverage in negotiations.
He doesn't want to fight anymore.
Stop getting all worked up as if something different is gonna happen.
— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 (@JoshLBarnett) September 1, 2020

The MMA world has been bubbling with the reports that Lesnar could be looking to step into the cage after more than 4 years. He last competed back in 2016 at UFC 200 against Mark Hunt in a fight that was stripped from the record.

The obvious first direction to look at is UFC but he would still be under USADA suspension should he sign with the organization. Dana White, at the end of their last dealings, wasn’t too pleased with him. The 43-year-old’s last fight in UFC was a no-contest.

Jones vs Lesnar?

Almost immediately after hearing the news of Brock becoming a free agent, former UFC Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones said he’d be waiting. Coincidentally it’s also on the day that wrestling fan Daniel Cormier officially said he was done fighting on his show with Ariel Helwani.

Well there’s lots of fights waiting for Brock Lesnar and one would be Daniel Cormier, should Scott Coker dare try to talk his long-time friend Daniel to come out of retirement. Cormier then eyed a fight with Brock Lesnar, who had a memorable post-fight confrontation inside the Octagon with him after his UFC 226 win. Brock, however, was unable to come to terms with the UFC and he returned to WWE. Cormier instead rematched with Miocic at UFC 241 and was finished in the fourth round, leading to their trilogy clash.

The ones that would await him in the UFC are Derrick Lewis, Francis Ngannou, Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic or even running it back with Alistair Overeem. There is a possible trilogy versus Frank Mir waiting as well.

The heat between these two fighters started way before in 2014. This was when WWE manager Paul Heyman made the following statement to Fox Sports: “If Brock Lesnar ever fought healthy in the UFC, I don’t see any fighter that could have touched him.” To which, Barnett replied the following: