Scott Coker Says Josh Barnett 'Probably' Next Challenger For Bader-Kongo Winner

With Josh Barnett’s recent signing by Bellator MMA, fans speculation immediately ran to whether he will get an immediate title shot against current heavyweight champion Ryan Bader.

In an interview with ESPN Saturday, Bellator President Scott Coker has revealed that Bader, who currently holds both the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles in the promotion, will face off against Cheick Kongo at heavyweight with “The Warmaster” most likely to face the winner of that bout.

“Ryan will stay at heavyweight for his next fight and he will fight the No. 1 contender that is Cheick Kongo,”Coker said. “That fight will probably happen in the fall, or late summertime something like August or September. That fight will happen and then Josh will probably fight the winner of the two.”

Bader made a successful transition from the UFC to Bellator by capturing the light heavyweight title over Phil Davis via split decision in June 2017 at Bellator 180 before claiming the heavyweight title after successfully navigating his way through the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix and beating Fedor Emelianenko in the final by knockout at Bellator 214 in January.

Barnett is one of the most accomplished heavyweights in the history of the sport, but his career has been dogged by repeated performance-enhancing drug test failures. He defeated Randy Couture at UFC 36 to capture the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title, becoming the youngest-ever UFC champion at the time in the process. After being stripped of that title for a positive drug test, Barnett left the UFC, becoming a champion in Pancrase and a contender in Pride Fighting Championships and Strikeforce before returning to the UFC in 2013. Barnett hasn’t fought professionally since his win over Andrei Arlovski at UFC Fight Night 93 in September 2016, where he won by submission.