After 15 years of fighting Josh Barnett sees what kind of skills needed for real top10 fighter:
"I think it’s too early to say that about him. I think, give him some more time. Plus, I think he’s fast-tracking. With his inherent athletic ability and his wrestling background, it allows him to do that. In the current MMA landscape, being a good athlete -- or, I should say, being a great athlete, because he was an Olympian -- with an extensive wrestling background, that can take you very far, very quickly. I don’t believe that that alone has enough staying power to it at the top, but he’s got time to acquire all the things that will be necessary to be a long-standing figure at the top of the heavyweight heap. With just the skills that he has now, he’s proven that he can take just about anybody out when given the opportunity to get in the cage with them.
I also know that he’s smart. I know he’s working on his submission game. I know he’s working on his hands and his feet and becoming a more complete fighter. But he hasn’t really had the great luxury to open up his skills all the way and go into the areas that are likely the most difficult for him."
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