Johny Hendricks: As soon as contracts are signed, I'm no longer champion
When Johny Hendricks won the UFC welterweight title back in March it was like a dream come true. Hendricks lusted after the gold ever since he made his mixed martial arts debut and coming just short of capturing the title in November 2013 only made him want it that much more.
It took five rounds and all 25 minutes for Hendricks to do enough to get the nod via judges' decision to beat Robbie Lawler to win the title. Now nine months later, Hendricks gets to do it all over again.
Winning the gold was the best feeling in the world, but fighting with a torn bicep that needed surgery as soon as the fight was over wasn't Hendricks' idea of a celebration but that's what had to get done. Repairing the damage in his arm put Hendricks on the sideline and unable to defend the title he sought for so long.
Instead, Hendricks had to sit back and watch Lawler go out and win two more fights to earn another crack at the belt and a chance to avenge his earlier loss from March. So at UFC 181 this Saturday night, Hendricks will defend his belt for the first time ever against the man he beat to win it in the first place.
It might seem a little strange or maybe even discouraging to fight the same person in back-to-back fights, but Hendricks is approaching the rematch as a whole new challenge. Actually it's the only way he can look at it because Hendricks has never had a rematch before now.
"Realistically I'm looking at this as a huge leap and bound in my career and the reason I say this is if you look at the welterweight division there are a couple of guys I could have to fight over again. I'm going to probably have a couple of rematches. That's the way it is," Hendricks told FOX Sports.
"This is going to be my first rematch in MMA. I had many rematches in wrestling, but this is the first one in MMA. So can we make those adjustments like I did in wrestling to better myself and to see how I can react with having a rematch. Those are a lot of unanswered questions and that's something I'm really excited for it."
Hendricks looks at the second fight with Lawler as just another chess match he has to play in the Octagon. In a way he might actually be more excited because he's taken Lawler's punches and lived to tell about it the same way Lawler has faced Hendricks' wrestling and now he's coming back for more. The two fighters are on a completely level playing field and this time it's really about the best man coming out on top.
"He knows what I've got now. I know what he's got now. Who can make the better adjustments to get their hand raised?" Hendricks said. "That's what's important in this fight."
Hendricks knows he'll be the last fighter to enter the Octagon on Saturday night in Las Vegas and he'll be introduced as the UFC welterweight champion of the world. In reality, Hendricks is looking at the rematch with Lawler as another chance to win the belt.
Just like when he won the NCAA wrestling championship in college, Hendricks didn't get any special treatment the next time he stepped on the mat. No one is going to bow and curtsy in front of him just because the word 'champion' is stamped next to his name.
The only thing he's guaranteed by being called champion is every fighter that faces him in any matchup going forward is going to give him everything they've got on that one night. They may be sick the day before and tired the day after, but on the day they face Hendricks, they will be at their best.
"Whenever you become champion, everybody wants a shot at you. Everybody thinks they can beat you. I can't wrap my head around that. I can sit there and say I'm the champion and all these guys are coming after me. As soon as I sign that bout agreement, that belt is mine but it's no longer mine until Bruce Buffer reads the final decision," Hendricks said. "That's always been my mindset, even in wrestling -- yeah, you're the two-time defending national champion but that doesn't matter. Every season is a new year. Every fight is a new fight."
When he steps into the Octagon, Hendricks knows he's alone with Lawler for the next 25 minutes. He doesn't get to start the fight with Lawler already down two rounds on the judges' scorecards just because he carried a belt down the aisle.
In the end, it all comes down to who is the better fighter on Saturday night and that man will leave Las Vegas with the UFC welterweight title.
"I learned through wrestling yes this is happening, yes this is a rematch, but I'm not the champion. You don't get to take the belt in there. We're equal," Hendricks said. "It's going to be me and Robbie. Who is better than night? That's what I'm getting ready for."
