Barnett Faces Another Friend in Sengoku

Josh Barnett (Pictures) will battle his longtime compatriot Jeff Monson (Pictures) at Sengoku II. World Victory Road (WVR) announced the bout, slated for May 18, on its Web site Thursday.

Barnett's fight with Monson marks the second time in two WVR events that the "Babyface Assassin" will have fought a friend. At the inaugural event in March he squared off with Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures).

While Barnett does have friendly ties to the Japanese Olympic judo gold medalist, his relationship with Monson (24-7) is even closer. Having trained together on numerous occasions, Barnett appeared in Monson's corner for his UFC championship challenge against Tim Sylvia (Pictures) in 2006.

Barnett (21-5) was last in action in March, submitting Yoshida with a heelhook near the end of the third round. The 30-year-old heavyweight sat out all of 2007 because of a contract dispute with his old employer Pride Fighting Championships.

The 37-year-old Monson, one of the most decorated heavyweight grapplers in the history of the sport, last fought in December, taking a unanimous decision victory over Hakim Goram in Manila.

Previously announced was the opponent for Kevin Randleman (Pictures). The American wrestler will square off against Japanese striker Ryo Kawamura (Pictures) in his debut fight for World Victory Road. Also scheduled to appear on the card, but still without an opponent, is Brazilian jiu-jitsu wunderkind Roger Gracie (Pictures).