Chris Barnett - News & Rumors - UFC | FOX Sports

Released by UFC Barnett has been released by the UFC, according to Mike Heck of MMA Fighting.

Impact In the UFC, Barnett lost four of his six fights. He finished Gian Villante and Jake Collier but suffered the same fate to Ben Rothwell and Kennedy Nzechukwu. Martin Buday and Hamdy Abdelwahab outlasted Barnett, who never logged a decision win with the promotion.

NOVEMBER 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Not competitive in Abu Dhabi loss Barnett lost to Hamdy Abdelwahab via unanimous decision (26-29, 27-29, 27-29) at UFC 321 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

Impact There were very few positives to take away from this Barnett performance, as expected. That's what often happens when you enter as a +350 underdog. The fact Chris was able to see the final bell was a minor miracle, although Abdelwahab's unwillingness to try to finish the fight was a major reason why that happened. Barnett also deserves credit for continuing after getting smashed in the back of the head with a few illegal blows in Round 1. He could have likely taken his DQ win and gone home, but he stuck it out. On the whole, however, it's going to be difficult for the company to run the 39-year-old Florida native back out there. Chris has just a single win in four attempts dating back to April 2022.

OCTOBER 25, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Locked in for UFC 321 Barnett is set to fight Hamdy Abdelwahab at UFC 321 on Oct. 25, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.

Impact Barnett has yet to fight in 2025 with his last match being back in October of 2024, so he'll finally return to the octagon come UFC 321. The 39-year-old heavyweight is 2-3 in his last five fights tracking back to 2021, and he'll fight a less seasoned fighter in Abdelwahab. Both big men have a lot to prove when October arrives, as Barnett is nearing his older ages and Abdelwahab hasn't established himself in the UFC just yet.

JULY 24, 2025 • ROTOWIRE