Hendricks celebrates change in his lifestyle in search of regaining UFC belt

J. Hendricks would cut more than 20kg to make weight. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

The period lived by John hendricks since his last fight has caused changes in the mentality of the former UFC welterweight champion. Having already gone through serious problems reaching the weight limit for his division, Hendricks assured that he will change his lifestyle so that the scale is no longer an obstacle towards his ultimate goal, which is to regain the belt.

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Hendricks, who this Saturday (14) faces Matt Brown at UFC 185, compares his current moment with his time at university, when he competed in wrestling. “I'm the type of guy that, when I'm not fighting, I want to have fun. I want to ‘kick the bucket’. But I can't afford to do that. I don't want to be the guy who looks at himself and thinks he could have achieved so much more in his career. I want to be champion, I want to remain champion,” he said, in a press conference backstage at the event.

“That's why I'm making these changes, and I hope it works. I believe it will work. It feels like I'm back at university. I'm killing myself every day because I have a goal in mind. That was taken from me, and I don't want that to happen again,” he continued, referring to his fight at UFC 181 in December 2014, in which he was defeated by Robbie Lawler and lost the belt.

Hendricks said he thought about moving up to the middleweight division, but feels more comfortable fighting at 77 pounds. “Which was better: changing my lifestyle or moving up to middleweight? It's a tough category there. I would be one of the smallest guys there. I think I hit as hard as them, but I want to be champion,” he added.

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