Johny Hendricks Doesn’t Know If He Wants To Fight Again
Former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks is down on himself following his loss to Kelvin Gastelum in a welterweight bout at UFC 200 this past Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada at the new T-Mobile Arena.
Hendricks lost the bout by decision and had some problems. Not only did he not make weight for the fight, which is not new for him but he was not the same fighter he once was that made him a champion. Following the event, Hendricks spoke about his performance, and now he doesn’t even know if he will fight again.
“I think I’ve got to take a step back and refocus,” Hendricks told UFC.com’s Megan Olivi. “It might be a month, two months, three months (to) – hell, I don’t know – decide if I want to fight. I love fighting. To get in that octagon makes me so happy, but to perform like that. I’m an idiot in that fight, is what it really boils down to. I’m an idiot in that fight … and I go out there and look like (expletive). Do I still want to fight? Because that fight right there shows me that I don’t – but I do. What do I have to do to get that fire back? I don’t know. It’s disappointing when I know I could’ve won, I should’ve won, and I go out there and look like a pathetic newborn. … We’ll see what’s next.”
“He was a better fighter; I didn’t fight,” Hendricks said. “No lie: Was that the guy who won the belt? Was that the guy who would even be considered the guy who won the belt? No. Right now, I’ve got to take a step back. I’ve got to take a step back – talk to family, talk to the wife, and see what’s next. That was so pathetic. No lie – I’m my worst critic. I’d give that a D. Hell, I was out there – I saw every punch I could land. I didn’t throw. I didn’t kick. That’s probably the worst I’ve seen myself fight in a long time. Nothing against Kelvin Gastelum – Kelvin Gastelum did a great job. … It’s just that I didn’t fight. That was so pathetic.”
Hendricks admitted that he wants to be champion again but doesn’t feel that he is fighting like one.
“I want the belt. I want the belt. I do,” Hendricks said. “But I’m not fighting like it, so there’s no reason I should be in this division right now. But I’m not going to be a gatekeeper, I promise you that. And that’s what I’m being right now. Pardon my French, but (expletive) that. Not gonna happen.”
Hendricks (17-5) is currently on a two fight losing streak and 3-3 in his last six bouts. It’s safe to say that a move to middleweight might be best for him at this stage in the game.
