GSP Rumored to Fight Johny Hendricks in October
It appears that October is potentially shaping up to be a blockbuster month for the UFC. Welterweight champion George St-Pierre is reportedly looking to fight number one contender Johny Hendricks this October, following the announcement that Jon Jones is looking to return in the same month.
The UFC does have a fall event, UFC 165, scheduled for Toronto’s Air Canada Centre on September 21st. However, GSP has been rumored to fight next in Las Vegas. Nothing official has been announced nor confirmed, but Dana White voiced the plans to UFC Central this week:
Dana White just told us that he expects @georgesstpierre to fight @johnyhendricks in October
— UFC Central (@UFCCentral) June 11, 2013
Last night on “UFC Tonight,” Ariel Helwani discussed the plans as well:
“Sounds like late fall is where he’d like to return, and actually, UFC President Dana White told Sportsnet up in Canada earlier today that he thinks that fight will happen in October?”
A short video interview with Hendricks then aired, where Hendricks shared his opinion that GSP was scared of him. It has been quite difficult for Hendricks to get an actual scheduled title shot, despite running through a who’s-who of the UFC welterweight division.
But as Chael Sonnen and Kenny Florian noted, GSP will most likely be waiting to see the results of the Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman fight. While that is up for debate, as St-Pierre hasn’t expressed too much interest in a bout with Silva, a win by ‘The Spider’ would obviously leave the door open for a super fight with either St-Pierre or Jon Jones. The Jones fight, truth be told, seems to be gaining more and more steam as talk of the former dream match between Silva and St-Pierre cools down.
Regardless, here’s to hoping that the UFC’s bold plans for October come to fruition. The super fight will always be the big payday everyone is looking for, but to date, Hendricks may be the toughest challenge to GSP’s belt. He deserves the shot, win or lose. Jones, rumored for an October bout with Alexander Gustafsson himself, might find himself with more leeway to accept a fight with Silva.
But GSP’s work is far from over at 170.
