Brett Lauderdale Discusses Eventually Continuing the Bloodsport Shows

Speaking to Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, GCW Owner Brett Lauderdale spoke about eventually reviving the Bloodsport series. As previously reported, Josh Barnett announced a hiatus for Bloodsport for the foreseeable future following Bloodsport XV.

During the conversation, Lauderdale spoke about the status of Bloodsport and possibly continuing the events at some point. Below are some highlights

Brett Lauderdale on Bloodsport

“Josh is a friend of mine and he’s been a partner for many years and I like Josh. I’ll always jump at the opportunity to work with him, but now I understand why he wants to move forward or try something else for now. But you’re right, there was a Bloodsport before Josh Barnett and I think that there probably will be a Bloodsport after Josh Barnett. As you mentioned, there’s a lot of people who want to be affiliated with it, who want to have their name attached to it, and who have great ideas to carry it forward, including GCW from the inside. I do think it’s such a unique event and it’s so different that there’s always going to be a place for it. I think it would be foolish not to continue it, not just from a business standpoint, from a fan standpoint. People like it. Of course I would love to have Josh be a part of it. But if Josh wants to take a break, then of course Josh is entitled to take a break and the door will always be open to Josh. I’m sure that we haven’t seen the last of Josh in GCW or with GCW or with Bloodsport. I could see him, in any form, I could see him coming back. He’s so passionate about it and cares so much about it that I would be hard pressed to believe that this is the end, end, end forever. I think there’s been some discussions, but there’s a whole process and also letting everything that’s happened breathe too. So I think that’s where we’re at with Bloodsport.”

Lauderdale on Others Reaching Out to Him About Continuing the Bloodsport Shows

“It could be either or. Like I said, I’ve had people reach out to me and I’ve talked to people about carrying the new torch, I guess, as it would be, or assuming the torch or the label. We’ve also talked on the inside of, ‘If we don’t go that route, would we continue it just as a GCW Bloodsport?’ I think that is also on the table. So I don’t think we’re far enough along in that process to decide definitively which way it’s gonna go, other than just to say, it’s gonna go.”