The balance of power in the welterweight division endured a major shake-up at UFC 141 on Saturday night.Whether you want to call it luck or untapped potential, Johny Hendricks left the jaws of every MMA fan agape after smashing perennial No. 2 welterwe…
The balance of power in the welterweight division endured a major shake-up at UFC 141 on Saturday night.
Whether you want to call it luck or untapped potential, Johny Hendricks left the jaws of every MMA fan agape after smashing perennial No. 2 welterweight contender Jon Fitch in 12 seconds.
Hendricks had been a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion at Oklahoma State University. He landed a crushing overhand left in the first round that sent Fitch crashing to the canvas.
Fitch is called a zombie for his ability to withstand significant damage and bounce back. There was no coming back for the former UFC title contender this time.
Hendricks followed up with one final ground shot. That put the nail in the coffin of one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
“The media said that I had no chance. They had said I had no chance, but ever since it first started, I told them that I at least had a puncher’s chance,” said Hendricks at the post-fight press conference.
He continued:
The good Lord blessed me with a left hand, and I put it on him. He’s a tough fighter. I knew it was gonna be a three-round (fight). That’s what I trained for, that’s what I prepared for, and the good Lord blessed me with a knockout.
With the win, Hendricks enters his name on the contender’s list for a possible crack at UFC gold.
Fans are currently infatuated with world-class welterweight strikers Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, but people shouldn’t sleep on Hendricks as a future contender.
Along with heavy hands, he has one of the most decorated wrestling pedigrees in the entire division. Hendricks has the potential to grind out bouts, but he also has the ability to end fights at any moment on the feet.
His style is reminiscent of that of former contender Josh Koscheck.
At only 28years old, Hendricks has the skill set to make some serious noise in the welterweight division, and his performance against Fitch just put the rest of the 170-pounders on notice.
Nate Diaz: As ferocious as he looked against Donald Cerrone, part of me thinks that Nate is going to get rudely decisioned as soon as he goes back to facing wrestlers; guys like Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson, and Gray Maynard have already proved that putting Diaz on his back is his kryptonite. But I don’t want to see that happen, at least not right away. Next month’s UFC 144 event provides two compelling options for Nate’s next opponent — either the winner of the Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon scrap, or Ben Henderson if he loses his title challenge to Frankie Edgar. Either matchup would give Diaz an ideal dance partner for another guaranteed Fight of the Night.
Donald Cerrone: Not to steal the thunder from Diaz’s masterful performance, but Cerrone looked like shit on Friday. Sorry, it needed to be said. The highly technical fight-finisher that we’ve come to know and love was M.I.A., replaced by an outgunned cowpoke who was as sloppy as he was tentative. Cerrone needs a rebound fight to find his mojo again. Setting him up against fast-rising Ultimate Fighter 13 winner Tony Ferguson would be a great test for both fighters. Either Cowboy gets back on track against a solid opponent, or Ferguson continues to prove that he’s more than just a TUF-guy.
(Come on, Fitch wasn’t out. He was just resting his arms.)
Nate Diaz: As ferocious as he looked against Donald Cerrone, part of me thinks that Nate is going to get rudely decisioned as soon as he goes back to facing wrestlers; guys like Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson, and Gray Maynard have already proved that putting Diaz on his back is his kryptonite. But I don’t want to see that happen, at least not right away. Next month’s UFC 144 event provides two compelling options for Nate’s next opponent — either the winner of the Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon scrap, or Ben Henderson if he loses his title challenge to Frankie Edgar. Either matchup would give Diaz an ideal dance partner for another guaranteed Fight of the Night.
Donald Cerrone: Not to steal the thunder from Diaz’s masterful performance, but Cerrone looked like shit on Friday. Sorry, it needed to be said. The highly technical fight-finisher that we’ve come to know and love was M.I.A., replaced by an outgunned cowpoke who was as sloppy as he was tentative. Cerrone needs a rebound fight to find his mojo again. Setting him up against fast-rising Ultimate Fighter 13 winner Tony Ferguson would be a great test for both fighters. Either Cowboy gets back on track against a solid opponent, or Ferguson continues to prove that he’s more than just a TUF-guy.
Johny Hendricks: Beating someone as high on the welterweight totem pole as Jon Fitch should put Hendricks “in the mix” and then some. But like Nate Diaz, he should have to win one more before it’s title-shot time. Give him the loser of Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 143 and make him earn it the hard way.
Jimy Hettes: In one performance, Hettes went from regional phenom to early front-runner for Breakout Fighter of 2012. Now carrying the scalps of two TUF 12 cast-members (Alex Caceres and Nam Phan), it’s time to give the 24-year-old a step up against a veteran. If the UFC decides to keep around the struggling Tyson Griffin, he could be a perfect gauge of Jimy’s development — though I have a feeling that Hettes would stroll through him, too.
Dong Hyun Kim: Maybe getting steamrolled by Carlos Condit was the best thing that could have happened to him. The Stun Gun we saw on Friday — who broke the record for number of crane-kicks landed in a three-round fight — looked like a brand-new man, just as comfortable on his feet as he has been on the mat. More than ever, he’s still a force in the 170-pound division. Since Rory MacDonald is busy through the spring, I’d set Kim up against Brian Ebersole, who’s 3-0 in his current UFC campaign.
Jacob Volkmann: Volkmann should take his ideas and political passion and run for local office in Minnesota. That way, we wouldn’t have to see him fight or hear him speak ever again. “Glassectomy“? Ugh. Leave the comedy to the professionals, buddy.
When we next see Brock Lesnar, will it be in the Octagon or the squared circle? What did “Cowboy” Cerrone do with the beanie Nate Diaz handed him? Where in the world did this Jimy Hettes guy come from? None of these questions will be answered in this forum. Instead, you’ll learn which UFC 141 fighters’ stock to buy more of, sell off, or hold. Even if you’re still too hung over to remember what happened Friday night, you’ll still need to make a few fiscal moves to stay ahead of the curve. Remember, money never sleeps, kid. Now go make yourself a Bloody Mary then keep reading to kick off the New Year with sage advice about the MMA stock market.
It makes no difference whether you think “The Reem” is completely unstoppable or flat out overrated — when he fights, people watch. Casual fans will be enamored with Alistair Overeem because he looks good with his shirt off (at least that’s why I think Arianny make that face) and the hype that can be drummed up by Zuffa thanks to his Strikeforce, DREAM, and K1 titles. For the next few years, as long as he doesn’t piss hot for some tainted horsemeat, the “Demolition Man” will be a main event attraction that will only make him more valuable with time.
(Hey Mario, is that some Jacks Links in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?)
When we next see Brock Lesnar, will it be in the Octagon or the squared circle? What did “Cowboy” Cerrone do with the beanie Nate Diaz handed him? Where in the world did this Jimy Hettes guy come from? None of these questions will be answered in this forum. Instead, you’ll learn which UFC 141 fighters’ stock to buy more of, sell off, or hold. Even if you’re still too hung over to remember what happened Friday night, you’ll still need to make a few fiscal moves to stay ahead of the curve. Remember, money never sleeps, kid. Now go make yourself a Bloody Mary then keep reading to kick off the New Year with sage advice about the MMA stock market.
It makes no difference whether you think “The Reem” is completely unstoppable or flat out overrated — when he fights, people watch. Casual fans will be enamored with Alistair Overeem because he looks good with his shirt off (at least that’s why I think Arianny make that face) and the hype that can be drummed up by Zuffa thanks to his Strikeforce, DREAM, and K1 titles. For the next few years, as long as he doesn’t piss hot for some tainted horsemeat, the “Demolition Man” will be a main event attraction that will only make him more valuable with time.
Brock Lesnar – Hold
Maybe it’s because of his pro wrestling background or because he wouldn’t be the first fighter to say one thing and do another, but I’m not sold that Brock Lesnar is retiring from competition. Some have suggested that once the larger-than-life beef jerky spokesman’s body and ego heal, he may decide otherwise and squeeze into his 4XL gloves one last time. Others, like UFC president Dana White, have pointed out that with the money he’s made over the years and what he has accomplished in such a short amount of time, Brock has nothing left to prove. Whatever side of the fence you sit on, don’t make any moves. If he comes back, you’ll be happy you didn’t bail, and if he shows up on RAW some Monday night in the not too distant future, I’m sure some booger-eating wrestling fan would be more than happy to take that stock off your hands.
Nate Diaz – Buy
What did I tell you? After dominating Donald Cerrone for three full rounds, people might start taking the Stockton native a bit more seriously. Nate Diaz played New York Giants to “Cowboy” Cerrone’s New England Patriots by spoiling a 5-0 run in 2011, and he enjoyed every minute of it. To borrow a line from his UFC 141 opponent, “The dude’s a warrior.” Look for Diaz to appear on a few broadcast TV events in 2012, as the UFC needs to showcase exciting fighters, which is the only kind Nate knows how to be. Winner of five FOTN and three SOTN bonuses, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brown belt is the type of guy who’s always in high demand, driving the price up. Get in now before he throws his beanie “in the mix” (or, you know, just hands it to someone after destroying them).
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone – Buy
Since Donald Cerrone first stepped foot into the cage, only one guy has had his number, which is hardly a fault considering Ben Henderson is now heading to Japan where he’ll face UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. In 2011 alone, the Jackson’s MMA product fought four times more than GSP, winning all but one of his matches. So when he says he’s down to fight whenever, you know he honestly means it. You shouldn’t let a bad night in the Octagon shake your confidence in the future professional bull rider.
Jon Fitch – Zzzzzzzzz (Now he’s the one sleeping!)
It’s about time Jon Fitch was in an exciting match. According to the latest UFC Magazine, Fitch has landed 1,973 strikes in UFC competition — more than anyone in the promotion’s history. After his fight Saturday night in Vegas, he’s still landed 1,973 punches. Pay no attention to those who tell you, “He got caught, that’s all.” A loss is a loss here. He’ll never be a UFC champion, although he’s a superb talent. He won’t fight his teammates nor will he and Dana White ever go catch a movie together. Dump everything you have.
With an impressive 12-1 record, Hendricks is headed in the right direction at the right pace. Buy a few hundred shares of Hendricks Fight Sports at a modest price and watch for the dividends to mount. KO’ing John Fitch is a win he can hang his hat on, something that adds a welcome pop to his highlight reel for PPV trailers. 2012 will bring a wild range of match ups in the Welterweight division with GSP nursing his wounds. It’s not incredibly out of the realm of possibility for the two-time NCAA National champion to get a title shot.
The most notable thing about “The Kid” is that he looks a helluva lot like that guy from ‘The Social Network’. The second thing that stands out about Jimy Hettes he possesses superior judo skills for a brown belt. Rogan commented that he is probably “sandbagging at purple belt” referring to his BJJ. Holding a perfect 10-0 record, Hettes completely annihilated Nam Phan, bashing him time and again on the ground. This may be your first chance to truly buy into a commodity while the groundwork is still being laid. UFC Champion, 2012?
Nam Phan – Dump it like your autographed picture of Carrot Top
Sorry, I guess an Asian brother can’t get no love, Nam. You may have beat Leonard Garcia twice, but you fail to execute a logical gameplan against almost everyone and just can’t seem how to get a win against an opponent worthy of mentioning. It was fun while it lasted, but we can’t keep our money tied up in your services any longer.
A shocking knockout loss to Johny Hendricks at UFC 141 has questions circling over the head of former No. 1 contender Jon Fitch. The smothering welterweight, known for his grinding and sometimes difficult-to-watch style, has long been considered the …
A shocking knockout loss to Johny Hendricks at UFC 141 has questions circling over the head of former No. 1 contender Jon Fitch.
The smothering welterweight, known for his grinding and sometimes difficult-to-watch style, has long been considered the No. 2 welterweight in the world. However, following the loss, suddenly the critics are out in full force, ready to drop him down the rankings.
MMA rankings are always completely subjective and it’s hard to blame anyone for dropping Fitch a bit after his loss when so many of the other top 170-pounders have avoided falling into the “loss” column in 2011. However, it is important to not be a prisoner of the moment in situations like this.
Make no mistake about it, Jon Fitch is still an elite welterweight.
Some of you might be thinking, “Of course he is, who is saying he isn’t?”
Well folks, you might be surprised to hear it, but I have personally spoken to numerous MMA analysts who are ready to drop Fitch out of their top five. One even told me that he is dropping him from his top 10 entirely.
I mean no disrespect to Johny Hendricks, who came in and did exactly what he said he was going to do, but unexpected knockouts happen. It’s a hazard that practically no one in the sport has been able to avoid throughout their entire career.
Even current UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre suffered a surprise knockout loss to Matt Serra back in 2007. Though the loss still counted on his record, the fact that so many analysts were quick to drop St-Pierre from the No. 1 ranking goes to show that MMA rankings can be absolutely crazy at times.
Serra went from barely being a top-10 welterweight to suddenly skyrocketing to No. 1, even though just about everyone agreed that it was a fluke knockout. Serra held the title for another year with an injury keeping him from ever defending the title before he fought St-Pierre again in one of the most dominant, one-sided and almost embarrassing beatdowns that has ever happened in the Octagon.
St-Pierre proved that even though he lost a fight, he should have never dropped from the No. 1 ranking.
Jon Fitch’s loss to Johny Hendricks should be looked at in much of the same way. While it’s understandable that some people will drop him down a few slots, Fitch should still be firmly entrenched in the top five at 170 pounds.
MMA analysts should remember not to let their personal dislike get in the way of reality. This guy is 13-2-1 in his UFC career and is an absolutely terrible matchup for just about anyone in the division other than Georges St-Pierre.
Crazy knockouts happen in MMA all the time. Don’t let one punch be the reason that you look ridiculous in 2012 when Fitch gets back to grinding out decision win after decision win against UFC opponents.
For more MMA news, fighter interviews and opinions, follow Nick Caron: Follow @NicholasCaron
Although much of the talk about UFC 141 has been on Brock Lesnar’s retirement and Alistair Overeem’s debut, it was also the coming-out party for Johny Hendricks. Hendricks was able to knock out Jon Fitch in just 12 seconds, earning his third strai…
Although much of the talk about UFC 141 has been on Brock Lesnar’s retirement and Alistair Overeem’s debut, it was also the coming-out party for Johny Hendricks.
Hendricks was able to knock out Jon Fitch in just 12 seconds, earning his third straight victory and sending his record to 12-1.
Before the fight, Fitch was the No. 2 welterweight in MMA on many people’s rankings.
Instead of adding another name to his resume, Fitch was sent back down the division by a huge underdog in Hendricks.
Thanks to the 12-second KO, Hendricks not only earned Knockout of the Night, but also solved the UFC’s problem with Fitch.
Despite only losing once since 2003 to Georges St-Pierre in a title fight, Fitch was often criticized for being boring and not finishing fights.
Grinding out wins may have kept Fitch from losing, but it was not gaining him any fans, especially in UFC president Dana White.
With the huge win, Hendricks can now move from being a mid-level guy to somebody who could make a serious push for a title.
Hendricks’ combination of knockout power, decent wrestling and good Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu makes him a serious threat for anyone in the division.
It may be too early to tell just where Hendricks goes from here, but it feels like the sky may be the limit.
Picking Johny “Big Rig” Hendricks to beat Jon Fitch at UFC 141 last night is one thing, but did anyone throw their balls to the wall and predict it happening in the first 12 seconds of the fight?No?Well, I didn’t either.Truthfully, as much as I wanted …
Picking Johny “Big Rig” Hendricks to beat Jon Fitch at UFC 141 last night is one thing, but did anyone throw their balls to the wall and predict it happening in the first 12 seconds of the fight?
No?
Well, I didn’t either.
Truthfully, as much as I wanted Hendricks to somehow win, I actually had Fitch winning the bout in the same fashion that he always wins fights.
Also, Fitch had the reach and the height on Hendricks, so the question before the fight was whether or not Hendricks would even be able to land anything on Fitch from up close before Fitch shot in for a takedown.
Not only did Hendricks land a clean left hand on Fitch, but also of note is that Fitch never was able to shoot for a takedown once before the fight ended.
Hendricks had the left hand ready to unload at a moment’s notice, but the wide expectation was in favor of Fitch’s smothering top control to be the contributing factor towards the second loss of Hendrick’s career.
What does the stunning 12-second upset win and Knockout of the Night recipient mean for Hendricks and especially Fitch, the latter of whom is now 13-2-1 under the UFC banner?
For Hendricks, it might mean the chance of a lifetime to prove that he is still every bit of the prospect that we all thought he was back in 2009, but talks of a title shot anytime soon are premature until the Georges St-Pierre-Nick Diaz-Carlos Condit saga is settled, pending any unforeseen injuries.
As for Fitch, his loss means a trip back to the drawing board as well as a bit of a liberation for the division, as Fitch was seen as the best welterweight in the world besides GSP, and most publications felt he was pound-for-pound one of the top fighters in the world despite Condit’s and Diaz’s respective accomplishments recently.
Only time will tell what the future holds for Fitch and Hendricks, but if things were not looking up for Hendricks before, they are definitely looking up for him right now.
One thing is a definite, though: nobody got any shot to sleep during that Fitch fight, and anyone that did missed the first bout since 2007 in which a finish finally happened in a Fitch fight.
The balance of power in the welterweight division endured a major shake-up at UFC 141 on Saturday night.
