The Rise of Johny Hendricks
It was not that long ago that Johny Hendricks was considered just a one-dimensional wrestler. Hendricks was a wrestling phenom in college before signing with the WEC after just a 3 fights on the independent circuit.
In 2009, the WEC’s welterweight and lightweight divisions were folded into the UFC, there was no hype surrounding Johny Hendricks. In fact, Hendricks was brought into the UFC as a stepping stone for recently crowned TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah. Sadollah had a ton of momentum behind him and there was no way UFC matchmaker Joe Silva would have risked Sadollah losing to a virtual unknown like Hendricks. But, to the shock of many, Hendricks plowed right through Sadollah and has never looked back.
Hendricks definitely had a knack for being heavy-handed, but it was his wrestling that still led to the majority of his wins. Following his first career loss to Rick Story, Hendricks began to undergo a transformation. Hendricks began to setup his strikes better and he also started implementing a heavy sprawl ‘n’ brawl style. Hendricks’ huge left hand was starting to pay dividends as he scored a TKO finish over T.J. Waldburger and a tough decision victory over Mike Pierce. Hendricks moved on to face his biggest opponent to date, perennial #1 ccontender Jon Fitch. With one big left hand, Hendricks had suddenly emerged as one of the top contenders in the division.
Many considered Hendricks’ KO win over Fitch as a fluke, but Hendricks’ back and forth battle with Josh Koscheck, and recent KO of Martin Kampmann should prove to every critic that Hendricks is the unquestioned #1 contender in the UFC’s welterweight division.
Now, Hendricks awaits his possible title shot. Dana White claimed Hendricks could fight once more before a potential title shot, but what else does Hendricks have to prove? He’s beaten Fitch, Koscheck, and Kampmann. Other contenders like Jake Ellenberger, Rory MacDonald, and Demian Maia are still a couple fights away from title contention. Some are pointing to a possible fight with Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit, but the fight to make right now is GSP vs. Hendricks. Fans are already predicting a possible upset with Hendricks’ KO power and possible ability to stuff a GSP takedown.
What the UFC needs to keep in mind is that a million fans likely purchased UFC 154 with GSP as the headliner and Johny Hendricks as the co-headliner. We just saw GSP get pushed to the brink, but his wrestling carried him through to victory. Now, the UFC has perfectly propelled Johny Hendricks into #1 title contender position with his KO victory. Hendricks possesses what GSP’s last title challenger (Condit) did not, the ability to keep a fight standing. Every fan that ordered the PPV has to be wondering if Hendricks can pull off the same KO he’s scored in 2 of his last 3 fights.
The time is now to give Johny Hendricks what he deserves. He went out and seized his title shot, now all Dana White and the UFC has to do is award him what he deserves, a chance at dethroning one of the most dominant champions in UFC history.
