Josh Barnett reacts to Phil Baroni murder claim: ‘He was too much to handle and so scattered’

Josh Barnett, a combat sports legend, has weighed in on the news that Phil Baroni allegedly murdered his girlfriend in Mexico.

“The news about Phil Baroni is terrible and incredibly tragic as well,” Barnett tweeted after the news broke. “I’ve known Phil for 2 decades + and at the 1st JB Bloodsport show could see that his personality and behavior was erratic, displaced, and emotionally he was all over the place and it was obvious why: CTE.”

He went on to explain in further tweets.

“It was so tough dealing with him at the show that I couldn’t keep booking him even though I wanted to. He was too much to handle and so scattered. He blew up at me because I hadn’t used him again and I blocked him on social media but there wasn’t much I could do,” he tweeted.

He also offered a warning to fighters.

“Fighters, need to take of themselves and those around them need to be vigilant and watchful as well,” he tweeted. “I’ve seen the decline from the man I have been friends with for so long to where he was last I saw him and it’s heartbreaking. Now with what has happened in MX it’s just so awful.”

He continued making sure to clarify he was not making an excuse for Baroni.

“Oh, just in case for the absolute midwit, moron reply guys who have zero reading comprehension – no, this is not excusing nor defending. I have not and am not making those points. It is simply some personal opinion and context. If you want to be stupid, go do it somewhere else,” he said.

Baroni was allegedly arrested this week after his girlfriend was found dead in their hotel room. Baroni admits to throwing her in the shower after it was revealed she had slept with someone else. He claims she hit her head and then later died while he was outside of the hotel room. So far, due to Mexican law, it has not been confirmed by name as Baroni, but clues point to him being the one arrested.