Johny Hendricks Doesn’t Care Who’s Up Next, But He’s Picking Robbie Lawler
UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks has been out of action since tearing a biceps tendon during his title-sealing victory over Robbie Lawler in a five round war at UFC 171 back in March.
“Bigg Rigg” is slated to return to the cage sometime this fall. With a bevy of top-ranked challengers awaiting him at 170 pounds, Lawler and surging contender Mat Brown will face off for the next title shot in the main event of July 26’s UFC on FOX 12 from San Jose, California.
Speaking at today’s special edition of UFC Tonight from the UFC Fan Expo in Las Vegas, Hendricks said he is down to battle either Lawler or Brown:
“There’s a part of me that would like to face Robbie Lawler healthy, you know, where I’m not torn bicep, all that kind of stuff. But then again, it would be nice to train for somebody new, so I’m sorta split. That fight’s gonna be a great fight; it’s going to be exciting for the fans. I think they both have that chance to win, and like I said, either way, I’d be happy.”
However, the champ is picking his old foe to lock up another title shot in three weeks’ time:
“If I had to pick, I fought Robbie Lawler, I haven’t fought Matt Brown. I know how Robbie Lawler fights, so I sport of have to, tend to go with Robbie Lawler.”
Talk not surprisingly shifted to the topic of absent and injured former champion Georges St. Pierre, who infamously beat Hendricks with a controversial split decision at UFC 167 last November. “Big Rigg” said he’d like to get that one back in the future, but if he never gets a chance, it’s not going to bring him down:
“You know, I would like to face “GSP” again. I think it would be a good match. The tides are different this time, you know what I mean? But if he never comes back, it’s not going to hurt my legacy. That’s the way I’m looking at it, I want to do my own thing, and if he’s in it, that’s awesome. But if he never comes back, I’m perfectly fine with that.”
Hendricks was his usual calm self during the interview, choosing to take what the UFC gives him. It’s probably a great attitude to have, because with the talent he’s going to face in the near future, nothing less would suffice.
How much longer will “Bigg Rigg” hold on to the coveted welterweight title?
