Hendricks, 'Wonderboy' Thompson to battle at UFC 196
A huge welterweight matchup has been confirmed for UFC 196 on Feb. 6 in Las Vegas as former champion Johny Hendricks will meet knockout artist Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson as part of the card taking place during Super Bowl weekend in Sin City.
UFC officials announced the fight this weekend.
Hendricks returns to action following a botched weight cutting incident that put him into the hospital with kidney stones and forced him out of the fight with Tyron Woodley that was scheduled for UFC 192.
The fight would have likely earned the winner a title shot, but now Hendricks has to get back into the pack of contenders and hope he can get another chance to tackle the champion at some point in 2016.
Hendricks made no bones about his intention to stay at welterweight despite the weight cutting disaster in October, but this will undoubtedly be the last chance the UFC gives him to make 170 pounds again.
Thompson will get a chance to put his name in the hat for a title shot if he can get past Hendricks after stringing together five wins in a row including a vicious knockout over Jake Ellenberger in his last fight in July.
The former karate champion has continued to climb the rankings and if he can get past Hendricks, he might be staring down a title shot by the end of next year.
UFC 196 will be headlined by heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum putting his belt up for grabs against Cain Velasquez in a rematch from June.
