Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
“Bigg Rigg” has admitted there is no way he can make the 170-pound weight limit again.
Since Johny Hendricks retired from MMA in June 2018, there has been next to no calls for his return. However, Hendricks says he would make a UFC comeback if the promotion were to introduce a 175-pound weight class.
Hendricks (18-8) once dominated the UFC’s welterweight division, beating the very best at 170-pounds such as Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit. The 36-year-old’s UFC stint ended much worse then it began though, missing weight for several fights (even once at middleweight) and ultimately losing six of his last eight bouts, some of which by one-sided stoppage.
Talking recently to BJPenn.com, Hendricks opened up on the possibility of a UFC return.
“I know I can’t make 170 anymore, I had my body shut down too many times,” Hendricks said. “But if they introduced a 175-pound division I’d be there and fight again. I’m too short to be a middleweight. Like I can do okay at middleweight but it would have to be good matchups for me. At 170 I can’t make it.”
Just a few months after retiring from mixed martial arts, Hendricks was back into combat sports this time stepping foot into the ring for a bare-knuckle boxing fight. Originally scheduled to face Brennan Ward, after several opponent changes Hendricks faced Dakota Cochrane at Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation’s first event back in 2018. Hendricks lost the fight by second-round knockout.
“The bare-knuckle thing, I thought I would be fighting a good striker but I went through six opponents, my flight was changed,” Hendricks said. “It was a pain in my butt. But if you look at those guys, they are getting cut a lot and they break their hands a lot. I don’t want to break my hands every fight, I don’t want to get cut. There are easier ways to make a living.”