“Huggy Bear” is back.
Fan favorite Chris Barnett was released from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) earlier this month, but he’s already landed on his feet. The Heavyweight showman has signed with Karate
Combat and will make his promotional debut next weekend (Fri., Dec. 5, 2025) at Karate Combat 58 in Miami, Florida, against Jonathan “Big Baby” Miller.
Karate Combat 58 is headlined by reigning Heavyweight champion Sam Alvey taking on knockout artist Robelis Despaigne.
Barnett (23-10) went 2-4 inside the Octagon, dropping bouts to Ben Rothwell (watch highlights), Martin Buday, and Hamdy Abdelwahab. But when he won, he won big. He delivered one of the best knockouts of the year with a spinning wheel kick that sent Gian Villante into retirement inside Madison Square Garden (watch it), and later scored a dramatic comeback finish over Jake Collier.
Was Barnett ever truly UFC caliber? Probably not — but he was undeniably fun, and Karate Combat feels like the perfect platform for him to lean into his dynamic Taekwondo style.
His opponent, Miller (0-1), has just one professional appearance — a 20-second knockout loss to current UFC fighter Austen Lane. His amateur career wasn’t much better at 1-12. In other words, KC is giving Barnett a softball for his debut, and no one’s complaining.
Karate Combat 58 will stream for free on YouTube next Friday.
