Former UFC heavyweight Chris Barnett signs with Power Slap

Former UFC heavyweight Chris Barnett has signed with Power Slap, the striking-focused combat sports promotion announced this week. The veteran fighter's opponent and bout date remain to be finalized.

Barnett, now 40 years old, brings a 23–10 MMA record and two decades of combat sports experience to the Power Slap roster. He competed as a heavyweight in MMA starting in 2009 and departed the UFC in 2025 following a 2–4 stint with the organization. During his time in the promotion, Barnett earned a Performance of the Night bonus for a knockout win over Gian Villante, but consecutive losses to Hamdy Abdelwahab and Kennedy Nzechukwu prompted his exit.

Since leaving the UFC, the fighter known as "Beastboy" has remained active across multiple combat sports disciplines. In December, he posted a 61-second knockout victory over Johnathan Miller in a Karate Combat competition, marking his return to the win column. Beyond MMA, Barnett has competed in boxing, kickboxing, and bare-knuckle boxing. He has also tested himself in submission grappling, famously facing former UFC middleweight Yoel Romero in 2019—a match Romero won by submitting Barnett with a kimura.

Barnett's move to Power Slap represents another chapter in a diverse combat sports career defined by adaptability across different rule sets and striking traditions.