[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-josh-barnett-calls-ufc-heavyweight-division-worst-in-years-proposes-8-man":43,"news-related-josh-barnett-calls-ufc-heavyweight-division-worst-in-years-proposes-8-man-en":73,"news-related-match-josh-barnett-calls-ufc-heavyweight-division-worst-in-years-proposes-8-man-en":26},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":28,"hostCities":39},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",5,22,"upcoming",[40,41,42],"Mexico City","Monterrey","Zapopan",{"article":44},{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":45,"category":46,"excerpt":47,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":48,"leagueId":49,"leagueName":21,"matchId":49,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":50,"slug":51,"sourceName":52,"sourceURL":53,"teamId":54,"teamName":55,"teamIds":56,"teamNames":64,"title":72},"Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett has delivered a sharp critique of the promotion's current big-man landscape, stating the division is in its poorest condition in recent memory. The veteran fighter believes the weight class has lost its strategic depth and excitement.\n\nBarnett acknowledged that top-tier talent like Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane still exists at the summit of the division. However, he argues that beyond these elite few, the overall quality and tactical sophistication have declined significantly. He described the current style as a collection of big, heavy, and clumsy striking exchanges mixed with grappling, lacking the nuanced chess matches that once defined the division.\n\n\"You used to see chess matches that would transition into brutal fights and back again. Now it's different,\" Barnett explained. He feels the modern heavyweight scene has become more one-dimensional, relying on size and power rather than technical skill and fight IQ.\n\nTo address this perceived stagnation, Barnett has put forward a bold proposal directly to the UFC. He suggests the organization should stage a one-day or two-day tournament featuring eight heavyweight competitors. This format, he believes, would inject immediate excitement and urgency into the division.\n\nThe purpose of such a tournament would be to \"shake up the division\" and provide opportunities for a wider range of fighters. Barnett's idea aims to create a clear, competitive pathway and reinvigorate fan interest by showcasing multiple high-stakes bouts in a condensed timeframe.\n\nWhile Barnett's proposal is straightforward, he is realistic about its implementation. He noted that the UFC is \"literally not going to do\" this, suggesting he understands the promotional and logistical hurdles involved. Nevertheless, he stands by the concept as a necessary catalyst for change.\n\nThe comments from the former champion highlight an ongoing debate among MMA fans and analysts regarding the depth and entertainment value of the UFC's heavyweight class. Barnett's perspective adds a respected voice to the conversation, calling for a return to the division's more technically diverse past.\n\nBased on reporting from Чемпионат.com.","news","Former UFC champion Josh Barnett criticizes the current state of the heavyweight division, calling it the worst in a long time. He suggests the UFC should hold an 8-man tournament to shake up the weight class.","327868564667109377","0","2026-05-07T15:52:28Z","josh-barnett-calls-ufc-heavyweight-division-worst-in-years-proposes-8-man","Championat","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.championat.com\u002Fboxing\u002Fnews-6459860-eks-chempion-ufc-barnett-tyazhyolyj-divizion-sejchas-v-hudshem-sostoyanii-za-dolgoe-vremya.html","326222707169431552","Anderlecht",[54,57,58,59,60,61,62,63],"326257539962376192","326257546392244224","326257551639318528","326257613643714560","326257615103332352","326257617288564736","326257666970095616",[55,65,66,67,68,69,70,71],"Como","Nottingham Forest","Mannsdorf-Großenzersdorf","Hassania Agadir","BSC Young Boys","Mantova","Young Africans","Josh Barnett Calls UFC Heavyweight Division 'Worst in Years,' Proposes 8-Man Tournament",[74,106,131,159],{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":75,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":76,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":49,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":77,"slug":78,"sourceName":79,"sourceURL":80,"teamId":81,"teamName":82,"teamIds":83,"teamNames":94,"title":105},"Guéla Doué scored and assisted as Ivory Coast beat France 2-1 in a friendly, outshining his brother Désiré who featured for Les Bleus in the sibling showdown.","338200147588550657","2026-06-05T04:00:00Z","guela-doue-downs-brother-s-france-ivorian-2-1-win","L'Equipe","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FArticle\u002FUn-but-et-une-passe-decisive-contre-la-france-la-soiree-de-reve-pour-guela-doue-avec-la-cote-d-ivoire\u002F1681944#at_medium=RSS_feeds","326222712533946368","Ivory Coast",[81,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,54],"326222711447621632","326255037997125632","326257536145559552","326222711401484288","326222767416414208","326257536078450688","326257536296554496","326257537865224192","326257686389723136","326257535994564608",[82,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,55],"France","Strasbourg","Rennes","Belgium","Lesotho","Paris Saint Germain","Auxerre","Estoril","Together","Nantes","Guéla Doué downs brother's France: Ivorian 2-1 win",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":107,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":108,"leagueId":109,"leagueName":110,"matchId":49,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":111,"slug":112,"sourceName":79,"sourceURL":113,"teamId":114,"teamName":115,"teamIds":116,"teamNames":123,"title":130},"The French Ripost bill proposes 24-month stadium bans and automatic pointage for fans, forcing PSG supporters to check in 210 days annually, challenging 2023","338196741843062785","326135627089186816","Cup","2026-06-05T03:45:00Z","french-ripost-bill-fans-could-point-up-to-210-days-year","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FArticle\u002FA-travers-son-projet-de-loi-ripost-le-gouvernement-veut-durcir-les-conditions-de-pointage-pour-les-supporters-frappes-d-une-interdiction-administrative-de-stade\u002F1681775#at_medium=RSS_feeds","326257667678932992","Police",[114,117,88,118,119,120,89,90,84,54,121,122],"326222712936599552","326255038034874368","326255039846813696","326255041625198592","326222712395534336","326222713142120448",[115,124,99,125,126,127,100,101,95,55,128,129],"Paraguay","FSV Mainz 05","FK Partizan","Partizani","Norway","Canada","French Ripost Bill: Fans Could Point Up to 210 Days\u002FYear",{"awayTeamId":132,"awayTeamName":133,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":134,"homeTeamId":135,"homeTeamName":136,"id":137,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":138,"matchName":139,"publishedAt":140,"slug":141,"sourceName":142,"sourceURL":143,"teamId":135,"teamName":136,"teamIds":144,"teamNames":151,"title":158},"326222712622026752","South Africa","Shakira & Burna Boy sing 'Dai Dai' at 2026 World Cup opener June 11 in Mexico City, with J Balvin, Tyla. Buble, Morissette, Perry, Future lead other ceremonies.","326222711908995072","Mexico","338120887364489217","327115024327774208","Mexico vs South Africa","2026-06-04T22:48:54Z","shakira-burna-boy-to-open-2026-world-cup-in-mexico","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fc8939ykg3qgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[135,132,117,122,145,54,146,147,148,149,150],"326257593007738880","326222713016291328","326257563345620992","326257565195309056","326222711623782400","326257791226351616",[136,133,124,129,152,55,153,154,155,156,157],"Azteca","USA","Heracles","Barcelona","Colombia","Nigeria","Shakira, Burna Boy to Open 2026 World Cup in Mexico",{"awayTeamId":160,"awayTeamName":161,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":162,"homeTeamId":84,"homeTeamName":95,"id":163,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":164,"matchName":165,"publishedAt":166,"slug":167,"sourceName":79,"sourceURL":168,"teamId":81,"teamName":82,"teamIds":169,"teamNames":176,"title":183},"326222711783165952","Senegal","France lose first friendly under Deschamps, 2-1 to Ivory Coast in Nantes, revealing defensive issues 10 days before World Cup start vs Senegal.","338126221931974657","327115052106649600","France vs Senegal","2026-06-04T22:34:17Z","bleus-lose-friendly-under-deschamps-2-1-to-ivory-coast","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FArticle\u002FUne-defaite-ni-vraiment-grave-ni-completement-anodine-pour-les-bleus-a-dix-jours-de-leur-entree-en-scene-au-mondial\u002F1681936#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[81,84,160,93,170,117,88,119,120,171,91,172,173,174,175,54],"326257810885054464","326257536413995008","326257541157752832","326257545754710016","326257554411753472","326257789708013568",[82,95,161,104,177,124,99,126,127,178,102,179,180,181,182,55],"York","Paris FC","Galatasaray","Newcastle","Newcastle Jets","China","Bleus Lose Friendly Under Deschamps: 2-1 to Ivory Coast"]