As one of his first official moves as UFC welterweight champion, Johny Hendricks told MMA Junkie Radio he’s going to lock his new title in a safety deposit box.
Can’t say I blame him, as his 170-pound championship belt figures to be one of the fight company’s most sought-after items during the coming months.
His victory over Robbie Lawler at UFC 171 gave the division a titlist for the first time since Georges St-Pierre vacated the championship in December, but the rest of Saturday night’s action did little to clarify the pecking order among a crowded and confusing crop of challengers.
As it stands, there are no fewer than five men who can make a compelling case to be Hendricks’ next opponent, and that doesn’t even include the injured Carlos Condit or the streaking Matt Brown (who is out of the No. 1 contender discussion pending results of his May 10 bout against Erick Silva).
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of each fighter’s bid to be Hendricks’ first challenger as the welterweight division attempts to answer one of MMA’s most persistent questions: Who’s next?