After losing to Travis Browne at UFC 168 on Dec. 28, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada, via knockout in round one (watch video highlights here), Josh Barnett focused more on what he did wrong rather than what "Hapa" did right on fight night.
Indeed, "Warmaster" decided to go back to the drawing board, conjuring up a 12-step program to return to mixed martial arts (MMA) dominance (read all about it here).
It's that lack of respect that Barnett showed toward Browne that makes "Hapa" believe is one of the reasons the well-traveled MMA veteran came up short against him in Sin City."
Browne broke it down during a recent appearance on "The MMA Hour:"
"I feel that defines him as a fighter. He had these 12 steps and all of this kind of nonsense when there's really only one step. One thing that you really need to do in this sport and it's the golden freaking rule to not make any excuses. That's it. If you make no excuses, there is nothing holding you back. People beat themselves in this sport. On that night, on any night, I'm the better fighter. I 100 percent believe that of myself. That's why I went out there and did what no one else has done in such a short amount of time to a fighter like Josh Barnett."
After reiterating that he doesn't care about getting respect at this stage of his career, Browne claims Barnett's lack of credit for his performance -- and instead of unveiling a 12-step program for his own resurgence -- shows that the former UFC Heavyweight champion is an entertainer before a fighter.
Browne's words:
"That's (respect) something that I wanted when I was really young in the sport and when I first got into the UFC. I would say that I want to feel like I belong and that I want to people to understand that I belong in the sport. At this stage of my career, I don't care if people think I belong or not because I'm knocking people out. My performance's speak for themselves. My respect is going to be earned. The respect is a byproduct of the performances you put on. I feel like he (josh) is an entertainer before he's a fighter. I think he has that personality. Guys that I've fought before, they give me respect because once we get into the cage and when we leave the cage, they understand what kind of athlete I am. I get that respect. I don't really care if I get that from Josh. That's more of his personality and I honestly think that's one of the reason he failed and came up short."
After coming to terms on a new contract with UFC -- one that made Browne very happy -- he will now face jiu-jitsu ace Fabricio Werdum at UFC on Fox 11 in Orlando, Fla., on April 19, 2014, for the right to face current division champion Cain Velasquez later this year.
While it's still unclear if their 265-pound bout will indeed be the main event in the "Sunshine State," Browne says he is training for a five-round bout like always.
And working on the alleged "questionable cardio" isn't a terrible idea ... just in case.