Josh Barnett isn’t holding back when it comes to Jake Hager’s decision to compete in Power Slap.
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, the former UFC heavyweight shared his concerns about Hager’s involvement in the slap-fighting promotion, particularly following his recent injury.
Hager signed with Power Slap earlier this year and made his promotional debut on April 17. He returned for his third contest in September, taking on Johnny Magna, but the match ended in a referee stoppage after Hager suffered an eye injury.
Josh Barnett explains why Jake Hager should leave Power Slap
Barnett acknowledged that he and Hager have had disagreements in the past, but admitted that watching the former WWE and AEW star compete in slap fighting was difficult for him.
“We’ve had our differences in the past, but watching Jake Hager go out there, it’s just, what are you doing? What are you thinking? This is the dumbest thing you could ever do,” Barnett said.
He pointed to Jake Hager’s background in collegiate wrestling, professional wrestling, and mixed martial arts, questioning why someone with that experience would choose slap fighting.
Barnett also suggested that Hager would be better served returning to MMA rather than continuing in Power Slap.
“There’s so much more you can do with your life and career. You’d be better off doing MMA than you would be ever doing slap fighting. It’s just not worth it,” he added.
The former UFC fighter was equally dismissive when asked whether he believed anything about the competition justified the risks involved. Hager’s eye injury appeared to reinforce his concerns about the decision.
“For what? No, I’m sorry, there’s nothing. I can’t say anything good about slap fighting, that’s it,” Barnett stated.
Hager’s experience in WWE, AEW, and Bellator means he has competed across several forms of combat sports entertainment. However, Barnett clearly believes Power Slap isn’t the right next chapter for him.
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