Johny Hendricks is one of the nicest guys in the UFC. He never shrugs off a fan or turns down an interview just because he doesn’t feel like it. He’s also a guy who performs at the highest levels in the Octagon and would literally fight anyone. He has solid wrestling and very good striking, but despite knocking out Jon Fitch, a feat no one else was able to manage, he feels like his power doesn’t get the respect it deserves.
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“It always seems like when I knock somebody out it’s either called too quick or a lucky punch or whatever. I don’t think people respect my power. That’s the beauty of the internet. Everyone can be a weekend warrior or an internet warrior. It’s easy to sit behind a keyboard and criticize. It’s the right of the fans I guess. I just don’t understand it sometimes. If one person hates on you they put one thread, and the next guy puts one. It gets started that way. I used to kind of pay attention to it, but not anymoreâ€.
Johny recently defeated Josh Koscheck at UFC on Fox 3 by split decision in a very competitive bout. Hendricks was certain that it would put him next in line for a title shot, but this was not the case. It was announced shortly after Martin Kampann beat Jake Ellenberger that Johny would be squaring off against him instead. His initial reaction was simple.
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“I guess I got one moreâ€.
Hendricks did make it clear his goals have not changed even if his desired opponent has.
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“Like I said before I want a shot at the belt. I feel like I’ve done enough to get that title shot. Certain circumstances have held me up from getting that. I was okay with sitting on the sidelines. Everyone was okay with saying that I could sit on the sidelines waiting for Carlos Condit or GSP. What made me mad is that Carlos Condit called out Martin Kampmann instead . I was like whoa, whoa, whoa. First off he has the belt and we get to call him out. Kampmann’s not the number one contender. I just cleared out the division for a lot of other people to move forwardâ€.
Johny’s philosophy is a straightforward and respectable notion that he will fight whoever the UFC puts in front of him. He plans on bring that with him, should he win the UFC Welterweight Championship, because he doesn’t believe that is happening now.
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“Condit calling out Kampmann – that would be like me telling Carlos Condit that I wanted to fight another guy. You don’t get to pick and choose. You’re at the top of the mountain. Everyone has to work their way to you, and I understand that Condit did get beat by Kampann like 3 or 4 years ago. Bottom line – a long time ago. Now Kampmann has to get through me. There are a lot of things going through my mind. It’s just that I have to go through one more guyâ€.
In spite of the fact that Hendricks disagrees with the booking he understands the UFC’s reasoning.
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“If Kampmann didn’t finish Ellenberger I probably would have been allowed to wait. If Kampmann just wins by decision then I don’t think he is in the same sentence as me. My last three fights or my last two at least are special. There’s only one other guy who has done that. I beat Fitch and Koscheck back to back. I beat them both. It doesn’t matter how it happens or how you beat them. It’s that I got the win. I cleared out the division for everyone elseâ€.
Hendricks is expected to face Kampmann later this year.
