Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett is a catch wrestler (type of submission wrestling) and has a controversial relationship with BJJ.

Barnett competed at the World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championships in southern California and won the “Ultra Heavyweight” division with a judges’ decision over Bruno Paulista. Barnett celebrated the victory on his Twitter account, proclaiming “Catch Wrestling lives!”, much to the chagrin of BJJ competitors like Pablo Popovitch, who told Graciemag.com before this event:

“[W]e can’t let a guy who does catch wrestling win the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship.”

Feeling confident from his win in the No Gi Worlds, he then competed in the GI at the California Classic 2009 BJJ Tournament on November 15, 2009. in the Black Belt GI Absolute division, Barnett first beat the much lighter Otavio Sousa by foot lock and then  lost a decision to ADCC veteran and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Romulo Barral from Gracie Barra despite seriously injury Barral’s knee with a leg lock.

On December 19, 2009, Erik Paulson awarded Barnett his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Even though Barnett had never trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu he was given his belt based on competition merit and overall knowledge.

Barnett’s Gi matches:

Legendary MMA Heavyweight Josh Barnett teaches his catch wrestling principles and concepts for the dynamic double wrist lock.

• The double wrist lock is a kimura variation, that you can supercharge with these catch-as-catch-can secrets that have been passed down to Josh – learn this new style of grappling excellence: see all the catch details for getting the lock, controlling the position, and using it to get the submission in this total technical approach.