The crybaby-faced assassin [update: Kenny responds, Josh fires back again]

speeds · Feb 13, 2009

Josh Barnett fought Gilbert Yvel at Affliction: Day of Reckoning, pummeling the Dutchman. At one point Barnett attempted an armbar that didn't work out, but otherwise he seemed a little lost with what to do in the mount when his punches weren't hurting Yvel.

MMA Live commentator Kenny Florian saw this, and in his role as MMA analyst, was a bit critical of Barnett for not being able to end the fight by knockout or submission despite maintaining a dominant position against a fairly weak grappler. Florian, like many MMA fans, thinks Barnett could've done better. I think Barnett admitted as much in his post-fight interview with Tito Ortiz, but Ortiz mangled what he was saying so badly I can't even remember anything he asked him, except maybe something about Fedor.

Well, Josh Barnett has officially thrown a fit over Florian's comments. Here is a transcript from a TapouT radio interview:

Kenny Florian is a punk-ass bitch. He thinks he can put on a suit, shave his stubble off, and get in front of a camera, and it makes him some sort of expert on MMA. I think it just makes him an expert on taking it up the ass, as far as I can tell...if he thinks his ability on the mat can match his mouth, and if he'd like to show me how to throw an armbar, then be my guest....I can fly out to "sit on a dong," grab him, and see what he's got to say now.
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Honestly, WTF? A little sensitive, are we?

Chocolove · Feb 13, 2009

Re: The crybaby-faced assassin

haha. Jeez, Barnett is really over reacting on this one.

ktrulez · Feb 14, 2009

Re: The crybaby-faced assassin

barnett was never a skilled nor a value fighter in my books..
the guy likes to duck and talk nonsense..

Mamba · Feb 14, 2009

Re: The crybaby-faced assassin

What a fucking idiot.

Fedor-Arm bar-rd. 1

KenFlo should put an arm bar on him, too.

speeds · Feb 15, 2009

Kenny's response:

Anyone who watches MMA Live on ESPN.com knows that I am fair when talking about UFC, Strikeforce, Affliction etc . . . or any of the fighters. In the most recent episode, I spoke about Joe Lauzon's dominant win over Stephens. Joe has spoken negatively about me in several interviews lately but I call it like I see it. He did well against Stephens and dominated the ground action. I also spoke about Strikeforce being a great thing for mma fighters and fans. Criticizing fighters or even picking winners and losers is always tough but it is my job and what ESPN pays me to do. Most here understand that and many here supporting Barnett most likely never saw the episode.

I expected a dominant finish from Barnett because HE IS a top heavyweight going against a man in Yvel who doesn't have his ground skills. Barnett certainly dominated but for whatever the reason, he struggled to put him away. It was my job to tell people watching the show what I thought about the fight.

I have always had a lot of respect for Josh Barnett as a fighter and he has always came across well in the past. Hearing his comments about me shows that while he is a good fighter, he is like school on Sunday, he has no class. I am not sure if Barnett is overly sensitive, sexually frustrated or believes he had a perfect performance, whatever the case, I think the comments he made shows what kind of a background he comes from. He has made some unusual comments about the UFC and other fighters so I find it odd that he is so sensitive.

As a professional mma fighter myself, I have been subjected to a lot of criticism. I think all of my performances are terrible after a few weeks after my fights. I know I need improvement which is why I train so hard. To resort to insults and name calling because someone thought I should have fought better is immature and pointless. We can always do better. We fight on TV and people will criticize. No mysteries here.

It is fighters like Josh Barnett who help support the perception that MMA fighters are ignorant and low class individuals. This is unfortunate since the MMA world needs guys who act like professional athletes if we want people to take this sport seriously. Barnett isn't a kid anymore and has been around the sport for a long time now, he should act like a pro. If we show a lack of respect, how can we want people to respect us?

Either way, thanks for watching MMA Live on ESPN.com. All of our past episodes are available on the MMA page at ESPN.com.

KF
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speeds · Feb 15, 2009

Josh's response:

Now that I have your attention Kenny, and the rest of the internet it seems, I’ll lay it out for you without the attention grabbing obnoxiousness. I have done media work in MMA for years and know the difference between acting as a professional on camera and taking shots at someone. You obviously do not and did not have respect for me as a fighter when you decided to not simply be critical of my performance but talk of it with derision and disdain. Your clearly condescending attitude is where I took offense and when I have fellow fighters sending me messages saying, “Hey, did you see Kenny Florian talking down about you on ESPN?” it’s clear to me you’re being disrespectful.

Yeah I know all the crass comments were a bit much and “Sit-on-a-dong” in retrospect was in very poor taste. I regret that one. But for grabbing attention and putting more listeners in front of the PC for Shoman and Co. it did the trick. The offer still stands however if you, K-Flo, think you can teach me a two about throwing an armlock or two. Your attitude suggested you sat on a pretty high perch for someone so much my junior in this sport and you must think yourself a better fighter. I’d simply like to see you stand up for that attitude. I have been submitted plenty of times by Matt Hume who is around your weight and you’re a professional athlete so no need for anyone to whine about me picking on you Kenny.

Who are you to speak of class or more importantly my background? The only thing you need to know about my background is that no one ever let me act like an arrogant prick without smacking me one. My teachers are men who put up or shut up and take no shit from anybody. See when I started fighting I didn’t have the luxury of gyms everywhere, promotions all over the US, sponsors, or even MMA gear. We fought whoever, whenever pretty much regardless of weights, time limits or rules. What you see on Sherdog isn’t the extent of my fighting history. Ever fight bare knuckle, with headbutts or no time limit? No cutting and running in those matches buddy boy. No, I bet you didn’t. You got all the benefits of a modern MMA created by people like myself and I can tell you what it really means to suffer for a sport when we didn’t make dick. But we fought however we could and for free if we had to, just to fight.

You’re a kid in this game. A mewling babe sucking from a teet. You haven’t done the things I have or even have as many fights as I have wins. You need to realize that just because you fight in the UFC and are on an ESPN internet show, we are not peers. Not even close. Not as fighters, not in MMA knowledge, not in the business aspects, not in anything.

I must say that as a fighter your improvement has been impressive and I think you have come far from the finals of the first TUF. This however is not just about professionalism but about being a man. If you want to speak with contempt and flout be prepared to have own up to it –even if it means having to get physical. That’s the way it is.

Don’t talk shit if you don’t want shit.
Josh
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bbwtrench · Feb 15, 2009

lol. Drama in MMA. They should sign all the fighters to a spot on the SOAP channel. I'd watch.

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The crybaby-faced assassin [update: Kenny responds, Josh fires back again]

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The crybaby-faced assassin [update: Kenny responds, Josh fires back again]

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speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

Chocolove Active Member

ktrulez blessed era

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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