J. Hendricks (photo) preferred to fight again rather than wait for the belt. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Not an uncommon scene, an athlete asking for a chance against the champion of his category. Now, do you remember anyone who voluntarily backed out of a title fight? Well, that's exactly what happened to John hendricks. Confirmed in the trilogy for the welterweight belt against Robbie Lawler, Hendricks gave up his challenger status and accepted a fight against Matt Brown in March, at UFC 185.
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According to Hendricks' manager, the desire to stay active was a determining factor in the former champion's decision. “We didn’t want to wait. Lawler didn't want to fight until the summer (in the northern hemisphere, in the third quarter of the year), but we wanted him to keep fighting. Whether the belt is worth it or not, nobody wants to sit and wait for six or seven months,” he said, in an interview with the North American website “MMA Fighting”.
Matt Brown was initially scheduled to face Tarec saffiedine at UFC Fight Night 60, on February 14, in Broomfield (USA). However, Saffiedine was injured and was cut from action in the new year. Since then, Brown has been without an opponent. Now, the “Imortal”, as he is known, postpones his return to the Octagon by a month and leaves the main fight of the card in Colorado.
Brown is also coming off a loss to Lawler. Photo: J.Hedges/UFC
At 31, John hendricks has a professional record of 16 wins and three losses. Former welterweight champion, Hendricks lost the belt in December last year, when he was defeated by Robbie Lawler in the second fight between them. Matt Brown, 34 years old, has a record of 19 wins and 12 losses. Brown is also coming off a defeat to Lawler, in July last year, in the fight that guaranteed the current champion his title rematch.
UFC 185 takes place on March 14, at the American Airlines Center, in Dallas (USA). In the main fight of the night, the Brazilian Rafael dos Anjos challenge the champion Anthony Pettis for the lightweight belt.
Check out the fights already announced for UFC 185 below:
Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Anthony Pettis x Rafael dos Anjos;
Welterweight (up to 77 kg): John hendricks x Matt Brown;
Heavy weight (up to 120 kg): alistair overeem x Roy Nelson;
Flyweight (up to 57 kg): Chris Cariaso x Henry Cejudo;
Flyweight (up to 57 kg): Sergio Pettis x Ryan Benoit;
Middleweight (up to 84 kg): Elias Theodorou x Roger Narvaez.
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