On the mend with a torn bicep, UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks is as clueless as anyone about the division’s true No. 1 contender.
“Realistically, I don’t care,” Hendricks said Wednesday on UFC Tonight. “I’m going to have to fight one of them. I’m going to have to fight [Robbie] Lawler again or fight [Matt] Brown or Rory MacDonald or Tyron Woodley. Doesn’t matter.”
With Woodley booked against MacDonald later this month at UFC 174 and Lawler expected to face Matt Brown Jul. 26 at UFC on FOX 12 the title picture could clear up pretty shortly.
“They’re both great fights,” said Hendricks. “Brown-Lawler. I fought Lawler, never fought Brown. It just depends how [Brown] goes into that fight. I don’t like to really pick on my weight class. Sort of just like a guessing game so that one’s a close one. Tyron Woodely can easily wrestle [MacDonald], could out-strike him or Rory MacDonald could keep him at bay with that jab like he did a couple of other guys. It just depends.”
One man not on Hendricks’ radar is former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. St-Pierre successfully defended his title to Hendricks in a controversial decision last November at UFC 167, only to step away from the sport to reevaluate his career. With St-Pierre now also recovering from a second torn ACL, Hendricks isn’t losing sleep over the future Hall of Famer.
“I don’t. I’d love to have a rematch, don’t get me wrong, but if he never came back it wouldn’t bother me none. I’m trying to make my own legacy and if he’s part of it that’d be great. If not, I don’t care.”
Eight months removed from their clash, Hendricks isn’t ready to admit the fight was even close, much less a victory for St-Pierre.
“Me and Georges St-Pierre? No. I still can’t. I re-watch it and I re-watch it and I re-watch it and the best I can do is three [rounds] to two. Everybody’s human. Everybody makes mistakes. It was sort of on my side because I got the fight in Dallas and actually fought a very tough fight again and ended up winning.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
For a few dollars more. Nick Diaz says he would return in 2015 to fight Anderson Silva ‘if the money was right.’
‘Gustafsson’s next in line.’ Dana White’s position hasn’t been changed by Jon Jones‘ affirmation he’d rather fight Daniel Cormier than Alexander Gustafsson. ‘[Gustafsson is] the No. 1 contender, he’s waited for this rematch and [Cormier] even agrees.’
DC’s knee. Daniel Cormier says he would postpone knee surgery if he could step into a title shot against Jones or an interim title bout with Gustafsson.
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas recaps last weekend’s UFC double header, talks Jon Jones’ title commotion, answers your questions and more in this week’s live chat.
‘He’s talking, I’m training.’ Diego Brandao doesn’t have a problem with Conor McGregor doing all the promotion for their main event in Dublin. ‘Saying that he’s the best in the world is bulls–t.’
MEDIA STEW
Inside the Octagon.
TTTHS.
UFC 174 Free Fight: Andrei Arlovski vs. Aaron Brink.
‘The Boxer: The True Story of Holocaust Survivor Harry Haft.’
Roundup of finishes.
Jens Pulver helps make a kid’s wish come true.
Gun safety with Din Thomas.
Long watches.
Fight Night Albuquerque Free Fight: Benson Henderson vs Frankie Edgar
…
UFC Fight Night Albuquerque Care/Don’t Care Preview
TWEETS
Big meeting?
Good to be the champ!! http://t.co/2oo0F1vPHI
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) June 5, 2014
Anti-beef.
@DiegoSanchezUFC @fightsceneblog agreed I’m not a trash talker we will find that out Saturday night #NoTalk #JustFight
— Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) June 5, 2014
@RossTheRealDeal @fightsceneblog this is our destiny as our paths crash violently our futures will forever be changed #WAR
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) June 5, 2014
Get well soon.
This is what fear looks like pic.twitter.com/vXiT5sfsIU
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) June 4, 2014
Nice towel.
Taking advantage of the beautiful beach and sun http://t.co/1rlMDYk4tg
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) June 4, 2014
High stakes.
#Brasil!! 🙂 RT @Alistairovereem: Looking forward to the World Cup!
— Paula Sack (@PaulaSack) June 5, 2014
@Alistairovereem What??? Do you wanna bet? Haha #Brasil 😉
— Paula Sack (@PaulaSack) June 5, 2014
Welcome back.
Oh really?? pic.twitter.com/f6LFr3XINq
— Bryan Caraway (@BryanCaraway) June 4, 2014
So lose = gouge.
I hate @Benaskren ‘s ugly goofy ass so much…I wish I could fight him @ONEFCMMA let me @BellatorMMA ? I’ll win or gouge his eyes out for DQ
— War Machine (@WarMachine170) June 5, 2014
Barry Masterpiece Theatre.
DON’T GO IN THERE!!! @rosenamajunas http://t.co/xhtKc3m8Wp
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) June 5, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (June 4 2014)
NA
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via DirtyBird2.
Throwback! How to get pumped for BellatorMMA 121
I’m baaaaack! With yet another break down of the event. Only gonna do the main card cause I don’t have that much time right now, I will highlight the undercard fights to keep an eye on.
Bellator 121 was decimated by injuries, zayats, beltran, and Curran (curran vs pitbull 2 reportedly moved to 123 yet to be confirmed) all had to pull out, thus this card ending up how it is today. There is no real ‘wow’ fights but they’re sure to be entertaining. We got some Pride stars on here as well as well as some very good prospects.
Main card:
Eric Prindle vs James Thompson: To the casual this fight doesn’t make sense, to the hardcore it doesn’t make much sense either, but I’ll try to spin it. James Thompson(19-14-1NC) is on a 5 fight win streak. I don’t count that bs No contest to Mariusz and if you do then he’s still on a 3 fight win streak. Defeating the 5x worlds strongest man and Polish powerhouse Mariusz Pudzainowski 2 times clearly. After that finished Bob Sapp as well as beat the beast Bobby Lashley in a highly contested bout where many though Lashley won. Personally I would really like that fight to happen again, but that’s besides the point. Eric Prindle(8-5-1nc) is a former title contender but now he’s regulated to build em up guy( ala Peter Graham, javy ayala). He always throws and put on exciting fights but that’s all he is here. To build up James Thompson who appears to be “back” has looked excellent in his last few and is in really good shape, looking to make an impact in this hw division.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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