Johny Hendricks Doesn’t Have Time To Wait For Title Shots
After losing his UFC 170-pound title in a rematch with Robbie Lawler at UFC 181, Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks was hell bent on getting his belt back, and he was expecting to face the winner of UFC 189’s title fight between Lawler, and Rory MacDonald.
That being said, Hendricks was surprised when he was matched up with fellow top contender Tyron Woodley at the upcoming UFC 192 which is set for October 3, 2015 from Houston, Texas.
As his bout with Woodley approaches, however, the belt seems to have less importance to Hendricks, who recently admitted that he doesn’t have any more time to waste waiting for title shots:
“I don’t care,” Hendricks told GNP1.de. “Yeah, I campaigned for a fight, I should have gotten a fight. It didn’t happen, you know what I mean? I wasted six months, you know what I mean? I wasted six months! I don’t have time for that. I wanna fight, I wanna get back in there, I wanna continue to fight.”
Just like he can’t waste any more time, Hendricks also indicated that he must do what has to be done to get a victory, whether that be pleasing to the fans or not. Being one of the most feared punchers, and knock out artists in the division, Hendricks didn’t receive much love from the fans after his last win over Matt Brown at UFC 185.
“Bigg Rigg” relied heavily on his decorated collegiate wrestling background to earn that win, and if that’s what it takes to rack up wins, that’s what Hendricks will do:
“I wanna make sure that I get the W,” Hendricks vindicated himself. “Yeah, I wanna keep fans entertained, I wanna keep them excited for my fights, but I also know what I have to do. I have to win.”
“And if that means that… I’m outstriking him, but the judges see it a different way, I’m gonna make sure they don’t, by using all my skills,” he said. “Yeah, I’m a mixed martial artist, I like to knock people out, but sometimes you can’t. And if you can’t, which way are the judges leaning? Like I said, two fights that I thought I’ve won, I have not.”
With passing over Hendricks, the UFC ultimately awarded the title shot to Carlos Condit, a man who has lost to Hendricks, but remains one of the most exciting fighters in the division.
Should “Bigg Rigg” rethink his plan, and try to finish more fights?
