UFC’s Johny Hendricks wants to move to middleweight
Johny Hendricks may have another welterweight world title fight coming up next but the wrestler recently told fans that he wants to eventually move up a weight class to middleweight. During a fan chat with the Dallas News, Hendricks admitted that he wants to retire at a fighting weight of 185lbs.
"Yes, once I can get through my weight class, I would love to retire at 185. I definitely don't want to go down a weight class," he said.
Hendricks isn't tall at all for welterweight but the about fighter still walks around at about 220 lbs in between fights. That means he cuts down a total of about fifty pounds from the start of training camp to weigh-ins in order to make the 170lb welterweight limit.
Clearly, he would love to have to cut fifteen pounds less for fights, eventually. Hendricks last fought at UFC 167 where he controlled long-time champion Georges St. Pierre for the wide majority of their five-round fight before losing a controversial split decision.
St. Pierre has since taken a leave of absence from competition and vacated his UFC welterweight title. Hendricks will face Robbie Lawler on March 15 at UFC 171 in his home town of Dallas for the vacant championship.
Is Hendricks jumping the gun a bit in talking about clearing out 170lbs and shooting up to 185lbs or is his talk the understandable wishing of a hungry (literal as well as metaphorical) man?
How do you think "Big Rigg" would fare at middleweight against the likes of Chris Weidman? Let us know in the comments section.
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