Tim Barnett strives to overcome fear ahead of fight in France at Hexagone MMA 9
Liverpool fighter, Tim Barnett, is doing his utmost to help people overcome their fears and become better versions of themselves
Last updated 16th Jun 2023
On June 17, Tim Barnett will make his eagerly-anticipated return to the cage at Hexagone MMA 9 in Reims Arena, France. And his desire to fight is based on an ambition far more significant than merely claiming victory.
Born in Liverpool, the popular competitor has proven his ability to compete with the best martial artists on the planet, producing triumphant performances over the likes of Rhys McKee and Sean Carter. But when he makes his walk to the cage on Saturday evening, he’ll have far more on his mind than just the opponent in front of him.
Despite his mental strength, he struggled with fear to the point where it was affecting his performances. However, in a testament to his unrelenting will to overcome any obstacle placed in front of him, the Liverpudlian took the advice of one of his heroes.
Barnett said: "There’s a Miyamoto Musashi quote, 'Great warriors win and then turn up to fight, while feeble warriors turn up to fight and then try and win'.
"I was starting to feel lost, and while I began to accomplish good things, like winning the BAMMA title, there was always something missing. And that was because I was searching externally for validation. I needed to get to this promotion or earn this amount of money.
“I was looking everywhere but inside for the answers, and so I've gone away and done a lot of deep soul searching, and I realised that you can't escape your destiny because you're going to live a depressed life if you do, and so many of us settle into this life of comfort.
“They want the safe option and hate themselves for it. And so I walk towards fear and overcome it. That’s why I’m here.”
Having gone on a powerful journey, Barnett has developed a strong relationship with God, whom he thanks for his ability to pursue his dream.
The 33-year-old said: “I believe that we have a God-given version of ourselves and that the world will try to remove the blessings that are supposed to come our way.
“The only person that can stop that happening is yourself. If you fear and worry about why life won't work out in your favour or things will go wrong, that creates a ripple effect. So, we have to be powerful guardians of our own minds. If anything bad creeps in, you have to be the Commander who sends it away.
“The process I like to use is telling myself, ‘This is all working out for me. All of it. It's all happening for me. Not to me’. And so even when the bad stuff comes your way, you embrace it because it's either there as your teacher or it's there to help you grow and evolve.”
On Saturday evening, Barnett will not just have the challenge of fighting Abou Tounkara but also his army of 10,000 French fans. But through his faith in God and his ability to defeat fear, the Scouser undeniably has the minerals to upset the applecart.
Fans can watch the bout live and exclusively on BT Sport.