Johny Hendricks: I Hope I Get This Belt & Georges St. Pierre Comes Back

Set to face Robbie Lawler for the vacant UFC welterweight championship at this Saturday’s (March 8, 2014) UFC 171 event from Dallas, Texas, No. 1-ranked Johny Hendricks believes that now is his time.

“Bigg Rigg” nearly had the belt wrapped around his waist at UFC 167 last November, but the judges awarded former longtime champ Georges St. Pierre with a highly controversial split decision. Shortly thereafter, St. Pierre left the sport of MMA behind to focus on his own life, something that was missing during his rigorous training camps.

“GSP” has said it’s possible he’ll come back at some point, but first, several things would have to change before he does. While those issues are supposedly centered on drug testing and the treatment of fighters, Hendricks told MMA Junkie Radio he believes the prospect of facing him again may be keeping “GSP” on the sidelines:

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“Would you want to look like that after another fight?” he chuckled. “You can’t take me down, you can’t hurt me on the feet, and here’s the thing – that was my first five-round fight. I’m getting better. I’m getting stronger now that I know how to run my camps. So yeah, I think a little bit has to do with that.”

Indeed St. Pierre looked like he had been in a dogfight post-UFC 167, but Hendricks emerged relatively unscathed. Ultimately the belt stayed with St. Pierre, however, and now Hendricks must re-prove that he is the best 170-pound fighter in the world. “Bigg Rigg” wants to get the title this weekend, but beyond that, he hopes St. Pierre eventually returns to face him:

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“I hope we get him back. I hope I can get this belt and get a couple fights underneath me, and he comes back. That’s what I’m shooting for.”

That’s an interesting point of view from Hendricks, whom “GSP” picked to defeat the power-hitting Lawler thanks to his grappling skills. St. Pierre said he doesn’t care who wins and that he’ll watch the fight only as a fan.

But, just how long will that last? The only thing St. Pierre has left to prove in the UFC is to defeat Hendricks beyond a shadow of a doubt. Is that enough to make him return to the grind that he sacrificed a normal life for?

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