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Outside GSP vs. Diaz, Plenty at Risk for Top Welterweights at UFC 158

There is no getting around the “big fight” feel looming over the main event of UFC 158. The long-awaited showdown between welterweight king Georges St-Pierre and Stockton bad boy Nick Diaz will finally become a reality, and fans are eager to see this a…

The fight between GSP and the former Strikeforce welterweight champion has been somewhat of an endurance trial as missed media obligations, injuries, cancellations and trash-talking of various intensities have built the 170-pound clash of champions into a must see tilt.

The UFC PR machine has done its best to make you understand there is no love lost between the two men, but their respective personalities alone have constructed the match-up into a classic “hero versus villian” affair. Sure St-Pierre can talk about how dark his mind can get from time to time in the promotional build up, but it’s difficult to imagine Diaz‘s middle finger waving, camera slapping, solid gold press conference sound bites are going to be out “black hatted” by St-Pierre in any regard.

While the promotional storm has drawn attention to the two fighters atop the event’s billing, it’s easy to lose track of the other crucial 170-pound bouts on the card. A collection of potential contenders (Johny Hendricks, Carlos Condit, Jake Ellenberger and Nate Marquardt) are all stepping inside the Octagon to hash out this “title picture business” and once the smoke clears in Montreal’s Bell Centre on March 16, the upper tier of the welterweight division will look much different.

Here’s a look at why the unofficial welterweight tournament carries huge implications

Hendricks vs. Condit Is the Riskiest Fight on the Card

When the bout between St-Pierre and Diaz was announced, there was no one more frustrated than Johny Hendricks. “Bigg Rigg” had just come off a rapid-fire starching of Martin Kampmann at UFC 154, and believed it was the caliber of statement which would lock down a title shot against St-Pierre. The knockout over “The Hitman” was the former two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion’s fifth consecutive inside the Octagon and the opportunity to compete for UFC gold appeared to be a given.

As it would turn out, St-Pierre had the idea of settling old grudges on his mind, and Diaz was selected for the next title shot. In the aftermath of the decision, Hendricks took to social media and interviews to voice his disdain towards the matter, calling GSP out at every turn. While the Oklahoma native originally contemplated taking to the sidelines until his title opportunity materialized, Hendricks ultimately decided to keep grinding away towards the top of the ladder and accepted a bout with Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158.

This of course would change several weeks out from the card when Carlos Condit‘s original opponent Rory MacDonald, suffered a neck injury in training and was forced off the card. Hendricks saw a bout with Condit as an undeniable title eliminator fight, and stepped up to fill the void left by the talented young Canadian.

In an interview with Bleacher Report, Hendricks explained his reason behind the decision as an opportunity to cancel any possibility he would be passed over on the next turn. Condit is fresh off a title fight against St-Pierre, and in Hendricks’s mind, defeating the former interim champion would leave him standing alone as the true number one contender to the welterweight crown. That being said, a loss to the former WEC welterweight champion would put his run at the title on ice for the time being.

While Hendricks may have the spotlight as the ready-made contender in waiting, the bout also provides a tremendous opportunity for Condit. “The Natural Born Killer” may have come up short in his bid to take St-Pierre’s title, but the 28-year-old had moments of success during their title unification tilt.

A win over Hendricks next weekend could earn Condit another turn at the welterweight championship, an opportunity and a shot at redemption he surely wouldn’t pass up. On the other hand, a loss in the co-main event of UFC 158 could push the Albuquerque native out of the picture for some time. With the divisional depth in the UFC welterweight division, back-to-back losses in high profile fights can do a fair amount of damage to a fighter’s stock.

There is no doubt the bout between Hendricks and Condit is a high-risk, high-reward affair, where the winner will be on the doorstep of a title shot. Then again, pound-for-pound great Anderson Silva could swoop in for the “super fight” with St-Pierre he’s been looking for and everyone could be left waiting.

Sounds crazy I know—but it certainly could happen.

Ellenbeger vs. Marquardt: Winner Stays, Loser Goes

With all the chaos at the top of the division, Jake Ellenberger‘s place in the mix has been somewhat overlooked. “The Juggernatut” has won seven of his last eight outings, with his only setback coming against Kampmann last June. The former Marine bounced back with a victory over Jay Hieron at UFC on FX 5 in October, and a bout with Hendricks would have provided him the platform to make a great case for a title shot.

Unfortunately for the 27-year-old, the bout with Hendricks was scratched in the wake of the MacDonald injury, and the UFC tapped former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt to step in. While the bout with Marquardt may not carry the amount of reward his previously scheduled scrap with Hendricks would have provided, it definitely comes with a fair share of risk.

In the grand equation of the welterweight title picture, Ellenberger is currently standing in a strange position. While a win over Marquardt will not earn him a title shot, a loss has the potential to reshuffle him back into the deck. This makes his performance in Montreal all the more critical, and if Ellenberger hopes to stay on the road to a title shot, a victory next weekend is a must.

Whatever pressure is hovering above Ellenberger going into the fight is tripled where Marquardt is concerned. After making an impressive welterweight debut last year against Tyron Woodley under the Strikeforce banner, it looked as if the 33-year-old was ready to make some traction in his new weight class. Unfortunately, Marquardt followed up his knockout over “T-Wood” with a lackluster showing against Tarec Saffiedine where he came out on the business end of a unanimous decision.

The loss brought Marquardt‘s momentum to a screeching halt. Heading into the bout there was talk of a champion vs. champion match against GSP being a possibility, but after the loss at Strikeforce’s final show, the heat surrounding the Denver native all but vanished.

But things have a strange way of working out in the mixed martial arts game, and when Ellenberger was left without an opponent for UFC 158, Marquardt jumped at the opportunity. Either he will make a big statement in his return to the UFC, or the former number one contender to the middleweight crown will be pushed to the outer regions of the divisional elite.

With Rory MacDonald coming back from injury this summer, and names like Demian Maia and Tyron Woodley waiting to hear what comes next, the pressure is on for contenders in the welterweight division.

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Five Reasons Carlos Condit Will Defeat Johny Hendricks at UFC 158

At the same event where welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre will defend his title against Stockton bad boy Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit is set to take on Johny Hendricks at UFC 158 in a bout that carries title-shot implications. Condit and He…

Condit and Hendricks can be reasonably classified as 3-A and 3-B in the 170-pound rankings.

Hendricks comes into the bout riding high on a five-fight winning streak over tough competition.

“Bigg Rigg” defeated T.J. Waldburger, Mike Pierce, Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, and Martin Kampmann in consecutive bouts, finishing three of them by knockout.

Considering this stellar resume, it is clear Hendricks can excel at the highest level inside the Octagon.

He will not get past “The Natural Born Killer” at UFC 158, though, as Condit is primed to ruin Hendricks’ impressive streak when the two square off.

Start the slideshow to see why Condit will spoil the title hopes of Mr. Hendricks.

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Carlos Condit: 3 Reasons He Will Beat Johny Hendricks at UFC 158

Surging welterweight contender Johny Hendricks hasn’t made many mistakes since losing to Rick Story at the Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale in December 2010. Beating top 10 opponents like Martin Kampmann, Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch have made Hendricks …

Surging welterweight contender Johny Hendricks hasn’t made many mistakes since losing to Rick Story at the Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale in December 2010.

Beating top 10 opponents like Martin Kampmann, Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch have made Hendricks a viable candidate to fight the winner of the Georges St-Pierre-Nick Diaz title fight.

Unfortunately for Hendricks, his next foe, Carlos Condit, tends to capitalize on his opponents’ most minuscule of mistakes.

In a bout that will include a pair of vastly contrasting fighting styles, Condit’s move-heavy, slipping style will keep Hendricks off balance in chase mode.

Here’s a look at three reasons Condit will outshine Hendricks in this de facto welterweight tournament bout.

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Jake Ellenberger: Johny Hendricks Wanted Out so He Picked a Less Dangerous Fight

It’s safe to say Tuesday night was an unhappy time around the home of UFC welterweight contender Jake Ellenberger. At home, hanging out with his girlfriend after a day of training, he noticed his phone was buzzing more than usual, and in the span of ju…

It’s safe to say Tuesday night was an unhappy time around the home of UFC welterweight contender Jake Ellenberger.

At home, hanging out with his girlfriend after a day of training, he noticed his phone was buzzing more than usual, and in the span of just a few minutes he had upward of 30 text messages awaiting him. Ellenberger immediately knew something was going on with his fight against Johny Hendricks at UFC 158 because good news rarely travels so fast.

What Ellenberger found out a few seconds later stunned him.

It was true, he was no longer fighting Johny Hendricks in March, but that had nothing to do with his opponent suffering a training injury. No, it was actually Rory MacDonald who was injured, and Johny Hendricks took that opportunity to call UFC President Dana White and ask to face Carlos Condit on the card instead of Jake Ellenberger.

Hendricks explained when speaking to Bleacher Report on Wednesday that Condit was the more enticing challenge because he was fresh off a title fight and had held the interim belt for nine months, while Ellenberger was “just another fight” to hold his position in the welterweight title race.

Needless to say, Jake Ellenberger was none too happy with that statement.

“I’m offended that Johny Hendricks called Dana to ask him to fight Condit. I’m going to choose my words carefully here, but I think that he wanted a less dangerous fight in my opinion,” Ellenberger told Bleacher Report late on Wednesday evening. “We’re going to fight because I know I can beat him, and I have him figured out. It offends me that he did that.”

Ellenberger is well aware how the fight game works. Just like chess it’s really about maneuvering pieces around the board and then striking at the exact right time. In this case, however, Ellenberger believes that Hendricks just had no desire to face him because he knew he was going to get beat.

“I know how the game works and I know how he’s trying to position the way people are looking at the scenario. He didn’t want to fight me and that’s a fact,” said Ellenberger. “So however he wants to word it, Carlos is a great fighter, one of the best in the division, I don’t disagree there, but I would still say and he would probably say the same thing that it’s a less dangerous fight. Is Carlos going to knock him out? I don’t think so.”

Johny Hendricks has charged through the welterweight division over the last year and a half picking up wins over notable names like Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck and Martin Kampmann. Looking at Hendricks’ record, Ellenberger takes nothing away from the opponents that Hendricks has faced but still believes he’s skating by on thin ice.

“Johny’s kind of had the perfect storm. He’s put together a lot of wins over great fighters, he’s won some really close fights as well that could have gone either way. I heard Joe Silva tell Mike Pierce he got screwed (when he fought Hendricks), I’ve heard things like that and things that I’ve seen. He’s had the perfect storm and he’s in position to fight for the title,” said Ellenberger.

“My argument is when you’re the No. 1 contender, and I don’t argue that he’s the No. 1 contender, and it’s the same with the champion—you don’t get to choose who you fight. You’re the champion or the No. 1 contender, you’re going to fight whoever they tell you to fight because you’re allegedly the best in the world. That was Johny’s way out of fighting me was (fighting) Carlos Condit.”

Ellenberger doesn’t want to go as far as saying this grudge with Hendricks is now somehow personal, but he’s definitely angry at the way everything unfolded. There’s some unfinished business, and Ellenberger doesn’t plan on allowing it to stay unfinished forever.

“It’s not over with Johny. We’re going to meet at some point. I don’t think he should be able to choose who he fights,” Ellenberger stated. “That was his way out, he found a way out.”

Damon Martin is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.

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Hendricks Looking to Steal the Show, Send Message to GSP at UFC 158

The path Johny Hendricks was traveling towards a welterweight title shot took an interesting turn last night.The Team Takedown fighter was in preparation for his upcoming bout with Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158, when news of Rory MacDonald’s injury came …

The path Johny Hendricks was traveling towards a welterweight title shot took an interesting turn last night.

The Team Takedown fighter was in preparation for his upcoming bout with Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158, when news of Rory MacDonald’s injury came across the news wire. The talented young Canadian had suffered a neck injury during training and was forced out of his rematch with Carlos Condit in Montreal. This turn of events left the former interim welterweight champion without an opponent and it was an opportunity the surging welterweight’s camp wasn’t about to pass up.

A phone call was made. A new bout agreement signed. And just like that, the fight between Hendricks and Condit became official.

Now “Bigg Rigg” will look to carry the momentum of a five-fight win streak into the Bell Centre against one of the division’s most dangerous fighters. “The Natural Born Killer” has won five of his last six bouts, with the only loss over that stretch coming to champion Georges St-Pierre in their title unification bout at UFC 154.

Hendricks has made no secret of his hunt for a crack at the UFC welterweight title, and the former two-time NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion believes the road to gold goes through Condit.

“Nothing against Jake Ellenberger, but Carlos Condit just came off a title fight,” Hendricks told Bleacher Report. “This is his first fight back after holding the title for nine months. He was the interim champion and is coming off a fight with Georges St-Pierre. That fight is still fresh in people’s minds and if I can put on a good performance against Condit, that should show everybody I’m ready for that title shot. That’s what I’m looking at. If I can go out there and put on a performance where people say, ‘Wait a minute…that’s not how GSP did it,’ then I know the next step can’t be taken from me.

“Condit did well against GSP. If a couple of things change in that fight, he might have won. That being said, if he went out and put on a great performance against Rory MacDonald and ended up beating him, then they could possibly say that Carlos looked much better and let’s give him another opportunity. Or that gives St-Pierre a chance to say Carlos Condit looked better than Johny and I want a rematch with him. That was my thought process. Now that I get to fight him, all the stipulations go to the end. If I lose…I lose. If I win…the next step is there.”

While Hendricks was originally preparing to face a power-puncher with a strong wrestling base, his new opponent presents a different set of issues to deal with. Condit has one of the division’s most diverse striking skill sets, and when his jiu-jitsu skills are factored in, the former WEC welterweight champion is easily one of the most well-rounded fighters in the 170-pound weight class.

Nevertheless, Condit has shown a weakness against wrestling in the past. But despite having one of the best wresting pedigrees in mixed martial arts, Hendricks is looking to test Condit in all areas of the fight game. The former wrestling standout from Oklahoma State University is looking to prove he deserves a title shot and believes this new matchup with Condit will solidify his place.

“Both Ellenberger and Condit present their problems, but what this fight boils down to is that Condit had the interim belt,” Hendricks said. “Jake Ellenberger was going to be just another fight for me to hold my position. But this fight is different. If I go out there and I win against Carlos, then that is just going to skyrocket me because what he did last year was pretty big.

“He went out there and fought GSP closer than GSP wanted it to happen. If I can go out there and do the same thing, fight to that caliber, then I prove a lot. I think that is what people are trying to use to justify why they think I don’t deserve a title shot. Just because I’ve been going out there and knocking guys out in 12 or 40 seconds, whatever it is, people don’t think that I have an all-around game.

“One thing I’ve realized is that in some fights you don’t need it. Take the Kampmann fight for example. I knew if I wanted to take him down I could, but I also felt I was just as good of a striker as he was. That is a reason people haven’t seen a lot of my game. If you are the best on your feet, well, I want to test myself. If you are going against a solid wrestler like Jon Fitch, I wanted to test my wrestling against him. That’s my goal and how I keep myself driven every day. That’s how I keep the drive to keep getting better and better. Wherever you are the best at, that is where I want to attack you.”

After scoring a first-round knockout over Martin Kampmann at UFC 154, Hendricks appeared to be on the doorstep of his long-awaited title shot. But after champion Georges St-Pierre told UFC President Dana White he wanted to settle his grudge with Nick Diaz, the Oklahoma-native was pushed aside.

Hendricks thought his impressive win on the same card St-Pierre earned a unanimous decision victory over Condit would have sent the message loud and clear. But since it obviously hasn’t been heard, Hendricks has every intention of making another statement at UFC 158

“It’s a pretty sweet set up because I get to do it again in front of him,” Hendricks said about fighting on the same card as GSP. “That is exactly what I want to do. Last time at UFC 154, I felt like I was able to steal the show and that is what I want to do again this time around. I don’t care how it goes. I know Carlos is tough and I respect him. After our fights at UFC 154, we talked a little bit and ate pizza in the locker room. I like Carlos and I know that we are going to put on a very good fight.

“I know he’s coming to fight and that’s the only way to do it. You have to come there saying, ‘Let’s put some leather on each other and see who is still standing.’ There is nothing more exciting in my opinion. For some strange reason, nothing makes me feel more alive than getting hit. I don’t know why, but it’s true. A couple of times in the past I’ve been hit and remember thinking that it felt good. It brings out the inner-animal.”

When the news of the St-Pierre versus Diaz matchup was announced, the typically reserved Hendricks immediately went public with his frustration. Having won five consecutive bouts and knocking off three legit contenders in the process, Hendricks believed it was his time to face the pound-for-pound great. It wasn’t the way Hendricks wanted to go, but with the UFC title as the ultimate goal, the 29-year-old will do whatever it takes to get there.

“I don’t like that having to do that,” Hendricks said about calling out the champion. “I thought my work would speak for itself, but I maybe I did my job a little too well. The striking part of my game does put fear in some people. Knowing that I don’t have to catch you flush or hit you that hard, but if it does hit you are going down makes some people afraid.

“Even if I throw it 80 percent and it doesn’t hit you flush — you still go out. We’ve seen it a couple of times now. That is something right there that puts fear in some people. That’s great because guess what…if they are worried about that then I can get the rest of my game working. My wrestling is my best attribute, and I’m telling you right now, my jiu-jitsu is better than my striking. I just haven’t really had the opportunity to showcase it.”

In less than a month’s time, Hendricks will step into the Octagon at the Belle Centre in Montreal, looking to make the final push towards earning a title shot. Once the cage door closes, all the talk and debating whether or not Hendricks deserves a chance to fight for championship gold will go away and the time to show and prove will come front and center.

Holding a UFC title is the motivation which drives Hendricks forward and he has every intention on making his dream a reality.

“Nothing else matters but that title and my goal is to get that belt,” Hendricks said. “Nothing else matters except for that belt. It doesn’t matter who has it when I step in there, but I need it. I want to be the champion. That is what I want and all I dream about. I want to have it at my house and showcase it to my kids as they grow older.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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Carlos Condit on Hendricks: He Called Me Out, It’s Time to Back Up Talk

Johny Hendricks wanted a fight, and now he has a natural born killer on his hands.As reported by MMAFighting.com on Monday, Hendricks will step in for the injured Rory MacDonald to face Carlos Condit in the co-main event at UFC 158.While there is a lin…

Johny Hendricks wanted a fight, and now he has a natural born killer on his hands.

As reported by MMAFighting.com on Monday, Hendricks will step in for the injured Rory MacDonald to face Carlos Condit in the co-main event at UFC 158.

While there is a lingering disappointment about the postponement of his grudge match with MacDonald, Condit is prepared to seize a monumental opportunity in ousting the man many believe to be the true No. 1 contender in the welterweight division.

“While I was disappointed to hear that Rory MacDonald is injured, I am glad that the UFC was able to find a strong replacement for the fight in Johny Hendricks,” Condit said on Monday in a press release.

“He is one of the toughest Welterweights in the world, and has quickly risen up the ladder in our division. We are similar in that we like to stay active and aggressive in our fights, so this should be a great fight for the fans to watch.”

Hendricks is currently riding a five-fight win streak, with his last three wins coming over top-10 opposition.

Despite a prodigious UFC run, Hendricks has been overlooked at every turn in regards to the welterweight title picture. He was originally believed to be next in line for a shot at Georges St-Pierre, but instead, the reigning UFC champ opted to take a fight with Nick Diaz, who is coming off a loss to Condit and a lengthy suspension.

A win over Condit should guarantee Hendricks a title shot. Condit has already defeated Diaz, and he proved to be a significant challenge for St-Pierre in their UFC 154 title bout. Hendricks can finally get over the hump with a sixth straight win on March 16.

This fight is equally as important for Condit, who is coming off a decision loss to St-Pierre.

If Condit defeats Hendricks, MacDonald’s misfortune could prove to be a blessing in disguise. A win could propel him back to the forefront of the UFC title picture.

In the press release, Malki Kawa, Condit‘s manager, spoke on the possibility of Condit reemerging as a No. 1 contender in the welterweight division.

“Fighting Johny Hendricks is the perfect opportunity for Carlos to earn another shot at the UFC Welterweight title. Hendricks is the perfect replacement for Rory, keeping a number one contender bout intact. It’s going to be an exciting fight.”

Hendricks and Condit certainly aren’t strangers to one another.

After defeating Diaz for the interim title, Condit went on an extended hiatus for several months in hopes of facing St-Pierre for the undisputed title when he returned from his knee injury.

In a June 2012 interview with Five Ounces of Pain, Hendricks challenged Condit for a shot at the interim title, but the bout never came to fruition as Condit opted to sit on the sidelines until St-Pierre’s return.

As if directed by fate, Hendricks will now face Condit for a shot at UFC gold. The time for talking has ended, and Condit assured the press he’d be ready.

“I have been training for Rory MacDonald, but there is plenty of time left to switch my focus to Hendricks. With eight weeks left, I will need every moment to be fully prepared for this battle. He’s called me out in the past, and now is his chance to try to back that talk up. I’ll be ready for him.”

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