Antonio Silva: 'Josh Barnett is afraid of me'

Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett was recently asked to comment on what he thought of a potential fight with Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva. Barnett was succinct.

"[Expletive] him," Barnett told The MMA Hour. 

Guilherme Cruz followed up with Silva and asked for comment on Barnett saying that he wouldn't fight the Brazilian. "It was unprofessional, but it was good because he gave me another reason to train hard," Silva said.

"I was so pumped up this morning that I went to the gym and trained even more. That’s how I like. If he wasn’t educated by his mother, I’ll teach him a lesson."

Barnett acted as if he would be doing Silva a favor in fighting him but the giant pointed out that, on some rankings, he is ranked above the "Baby-faced Assassin." This wasn't the first time that Barnett insulted "Pezao," either.

Back in 2011, Barnett said that the only reason Silva was a "decent" fighter was because of his life-threatening gigantism condition. Far from making his life easy, Silva's condition ultimately required brain surgery to correct.

"He’s giving excuses because he’s scared. That’s the word. He says he won’t fight me because he doesn’t want to give me name and money with this fight, but the truth is he’s scared," Silva said of Barnett.

"I think he should take a look at the rankings. I’m ranked at no. 4 and he’s no. 5. The last guy that beat him (Travis Browne) got knocked out by me."

Who would you pick in a matchup between Barnett and Silva? Let us know in the comments section.

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