DREAM 13: Josh Barnett Confirmed, But Versus Whom?

Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked heavyweight “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5) will make his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts at DREAM.13 in Yokohama March 22, DREAM announced Friday.

Barnett hasn’t fought since forcing Dutch kickboxer “Hurricane” Gilbert Yvel (33-13-1) to give up on strikes at Affliction 2 in Anaheim in January 2009.  Of course, that victory earned Barnett a matchup versus Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (30-1), but the event was cancelled after Barnett was denied a license to fight by the California State Athletic Commission after testing positive for 2a-methyl-5a-androstan-3a-ol-17-one, an anabolic steroid. Barnett denies using steroids and has appealed to the CSAC.

No opponent has been named for Barnett’s return, and with the event just 10 days away, Fighters.com wonders what Tatsuya Mizuno (7-5) or one of the other reliable last-minute punching bags has on their schedule that week.

No heavyweight at Barnett’s level would take a fight versus Barnett on such short notice, so expect a classic Japanese mismatch for Barnett.

But, at least Barnett is returning to competition.