UFC: The Road Ahead for Johny Hendricks

After gaining a solid victory over another top contender in Josh Koscheck, UFC welterweight contender Johny Hendricks has yet again thrust himself forward toward a title shot. It seems now he has done enough to earn it. 

Hendricks is the only man aside from WW champion Georges St. Pierre that has beaten both Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch, who was the longtime No. 2 welterweight in the world. Before the showdown between Hendricks and Koscheck, Dana White indicated that Hendricks would get a title shot with a victory. Sure enough, following the split decision win for Hendricks, it seems the choice is up to Johny to decide where he goes from here. 

The issue at hand is the layoff of GSP due to his injuries and recovery. Since his hiatus, Carlos Condit has stepped up and claimed the interim welterweight title and wants to wait for GSP. That return of the Canadian superstar might take a long time, and it could be sometime near the end of the year. 

Johny Hendricks is edging more toward the side of waiting for the winner of GSP vs. Condit. That play will sideline Hendricks six months—plus medical suspensions resulting from GSP vs. Condit and at least another four to six weeks for another camp and prep. Some claim Hendricks’ title shot could come next January, but it could very well be February or March. 

That is a long layoff for Hendricks considering he fought four times in a little over a year. The question is: Will Condit and Hendricks consider squaring off in the meantime? 

If they did, the timing would likely work a lot better for all parties, but it would be giving yet another fight to both contenders who have earned their shots already. Of course, one can argue that if you are truly deserving of a title shot, you should at least be able to take on everyone else that isn’t the champion. This isn’t a sentiment held by all, and as a business move, waiting can be much more beneficial. 

It may come down to Hendricks fighting Condit for the interim spot, but many would see that matchup as very unfair for Condit, who has waited a very long time and has finally earned his spot. After the debacle of injuries and switching opponents, Condit is in a place where he can sit back and wait if he chooses. 

Now the move is more so on Hendricks to volley for one or the other. He can go to Dana White and say he’ll wait for the winner of GSP vs. Condit, or he can ask for Condit in the meantime. The layoff of GSP has put the WW division rankings in a weird spot, and waiting until next January or even March for any contender besides Hendricks and Condit to even be in the title picture is a long time. Who knows where Jake Ellenberger or Martin Kampmann will stand come this June? 

Johny Hendricks has risen very quickly in the division and pulled off some key wins to make his argument. As said before, the next move is probably his. Dana White could throw a curveball and have Ellenberger (if he wins vs. Kampmann) face either Condit or Hendricks; either way, someone is getting played unfairly based on what they were promised. At the end of the day, the UFC has to run its business though, and many men can be swayed by the right paycheck. 

Hendricks has more to gain monetarily from waiting for the winner of GSP vs. Condit, but the UFC could offer him, Condit and Ellenberger much higher purses for not waiting and fighting amongst themselves as to prevent any stale feelings in the WW division. 

Time will tell, but for now Hendricks has shown favor in waiting. But with him waiting, the interim champ waiting and the champion recovering, someone in the welterweight division will inevitably suffer. Regardless, Hendricks has earned his shot, and his road ahead looks filled with great promise. Whether he fights Condit, GSP or even Ellenberger, he has finally arrived at the upper echelon of the welterweight division. 

Join the MMA Facebook Page and follow the @FightersCreed on Twitter!