It seems that Pride Fighting Championship and UItimate Fighting Championship veteran Josh Barnett does not believe Jake Hager is worthy of getting his sought-after fight with mixed martial arts legend Fedor Emelianenko.
Last week, came the news that former Pride FC heavyweight champion Emelianenko would be making his return to the Bellator cage in October. Several names were suggested as possible opponents, including Barnett. One name not mentioned was Hager. That was until the current All Elite Wrestling star told MMAFighting that he wanted in on the running for that matchup, and felt it was predestined from the moment he joined the organization.
Josh Barnett and Jake Hager trade barbs on Twitter over a possible Fedor fight
“I really honestly believe that [the Emelianenko fight] is my fight. It’s been my fight since I came to Bellator,” Hager told MMAFighting.
You can’t blame Hager for throwing his hat into the Emelianenko lottery after just three MMA fights. It’s a chance every heavyweight on the Bellator roster would love to have. And surely Hager feels because of his current run in AEW, and having been a former World Wrestling Entertainment heavyweight champion, he has the sort of name-value that could get his name into the booking conversation.
Barnett could care less.
“The Warmaster” retweeted the quote from Hager’s interview and explained why the MMA “green boy” needs to give up his Fedor pursuit, stick to AEW, and get some more fights under his belt.
“No, it’s not. Having more followers doesn’t mean anything in terms of merit or skill in the ring,” Barnett wrote. “You’re a green boy who fights rookies. You don’t even belong in the conversation. Stick to AEW & getting in a few fights before you eventually lose & then quit.”
Of course, with two red-blooded heavyweight alpha males involved, the conversation did not end there. The man once known as “Jack Swagger” fired back by claiming he could put “asses” in seats, and let loose with a not so subtle dig at Barnett’s history of failed drug tests.
“I’ll put asses in the seats while you put needles in your ass. Pass a drug test BOY and watch me get this fight,” Hager wrote.
Barnett, 43, returned serve and suggested a needle to the tush could do the 39-year-old MMA neophyte some good. As well as questioned his toughness after a shot to his mini-Hager’s at Bellator 231 led to a no-contest finish against Anthony Garrett.
“What’s the point of Fedor beating up a 3 fight scrub? I suggest you start putting needles in your ass so that you might show some real talent in the cage,” Barnett responded. “May even give you enough fortitude to not b*tch out from a nut shot while you’re wearing a cup.”
Barnett (35-8) has yet to debut for Bellator. Two different planned bouts against Ronny Markes in 2019 and 2020 were scrapped, and the latter booking failed after Barnett failed a ‘medical requirement’ with the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation before the bout.
Hager (3-0-1) last fought at Bellator 250 in October. Earning a split-decision win over Brandon Calton.
No opponent for Emelianenko has been confirmed, but if neither are given the opportunity, a Hager versus Barnett bout seems far more interesting than it did a week ago.
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