UFC 91 Preview: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Josh Hendricks

This is the second installment of the Ropes, Ring, and Cage UFC 91 preview, airing live on PPV this Saturday from Las Vegas, NV. Every day, RRC will provide background and analysis on one of the televised bouts. On Wednesday, RRC will preview Amir Sodallah vs. Nick Catone.

Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) vs. Josh Hendricks (15-4)—Heavyweights

On Gonzaga

A 240+ pounder with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Yeah, that's a bad man. The 29-year-old has fought big names and been involved in some brawls in his five years of pro fighting.

Gonzaga compiled a 5-1 record before making it to the UFC, mainly winning by submission. Upon debuting in the Octagon with a knockout of Kevin Jordan in November 2005, the big man ripped off another two wins before getting his biggest opportunity to date: a battle with former PRIDE Champion Mirko Cro Cop. What followed was a spectacular leg kick knockout of Cro Cop that is one of the most recognizable KOs in recent UFC history.

This gave Gonzaga the No. 1 contender's position and a shot at Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture in August 2007. But Couture does what Couture does and defeated the 6'1" Gonzaga via TKO (strikes) in the third round, a battle that earned Fight of the Night honors.

Gonzaga would lose his next fight to Fabricio Werdum in January 2008 via TKO (strikes) before getting back on the winning track by submitting Justin McCully via first round Americana in July.

The Team Link member needs a consistent string of wins to get back to the contender status he was at just over a year ago and a win Saturday would certainly help.

On Hendricks

This will be Hendricks' UFC debut and there must be something that matchmaker Joe Silva saw in him as it'll be his first fight in a year, with the last being a first round KO of James Powell in November 2007.

He's been a pro since the fall of 2002 and is unbeaten in his last 10 fights with one no contest. His wins have been a combination of submission victories via choke or TKO, all on smaller-level shows.

The 32-year-old Ohio native stands 6'2" and weighs 246 pounds, listing wrestling and jiu-jitsu as his strengths, having earned All-American honors twice as a wrestler at Ashland (OH) University. I wish we had more details, but there's not a lot out there on the guy. The official site for UFC 91 doesn't even have a picture of him!

Breakdown

On paper, this looks like a fairly even matchup with nearly identical styles.

Gonzaga can win via the ground, but his past would seem to favor him wanting to keep it standing. If Gonzaga can win in notable fashion, he's back in the mix again. The UFC seems to be adding some depth to this division and Gonzaga can stake his claim to being a major factor with a big win.

Hendricks is a bit of a mystery. But that he's fighting a televised bout in his UFC debut after being out for a year and that the fight happens to be on the undercard of Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar has to say something for his talent.

I doubt he's a tomato can and there's a reason he's on this show, but the mystery is too much for us to overlook. Who are you, Josh Hendricks? Who...are...you?

RRC Prediction

Hendricks via first round TKO (strikes).

Monday: Nate Quarry vs. Demian Maia

Josh Nason has written and maintained Ropes, Ring and Cage since 2007 and can be reached at [e-mail]. If you are using any content or recapping from this site, please include a link to www.ropesringandcage.com. Thank you for your support!