Hendricks (left) is the underdog for the fight against GSP (right)
John hendricks was accredited as a challenger for the welterweight belt after racking up victories over members of the top 10 such as Jon Fitch, Martin Kampmann and Josh koscheck, among others. The convincing triumph over Carlos Condit, at UFC 158, ratified the “Bigg Rigg” status.
In theory, Hendricks should have already fought for the belt against champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158, but the Canadian preferred to face Nick Diaz under the pretext of having “unfinished business” with the former Strikeforce champion. With the problem resolved last March, the path was apparently clear again for Hendricks. But the fight has not yet been made official.
St-Pierre finds himself in the middle of an old dream of Dana White, that of confronting Anderson Silva with GSP or Jon Jones, in a superfight that would probably break the record for pay-per-view of the organization. First, the Brazilian needs to win Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in July. As St-Pierre believes that Weidman will take the belt from Anderson, Hendricks would indeed be his next opponent.
In the midst of so much confusion, Hendricks still has doubts about when he will finally compete for the title in his category. “I think we already have a game plan to face GSP,” he said on MMAjunkie Radio. “He just needs to accept it.”
Showing confidence, Hendricks went further. He doesn't seem too concerned about GSP's takedown game, the champion's main tool.
“I'm not saying he (GSP) will never take me down. But GSP has been saying for years: 'You've never faced anyone like me.' Well guess what, he never faced anyone like me either. I have knockout power, I'm stronger than anyone he's faced to date and my wrestling It's better than anyone he's ever faced. I dropped Carlos Condit more in three rounds than GSP did in five.”
In a session with the press during UFC 160, last weekend, Dana White said that the confrontation between St-Pierre and Hendricks should take place during the autumn of the northern hemisphere, but did not specify a date. The UFC president also said that he could hold a conference call with the two fighters to resolve any pending issue that is hindering the confirmation of the fight.
Comments