Johny Hendricks

By FCF Staff

Many observers believe Johny Hendricks will need to rely on his wrestling game if he hopes to beat Stephen Thompson this Saturday, and clearly “Bigg Rigg” doesn’t care for that argument.

Hendricks will take on the highlight reel and dangerous striker in the main event of UFC Fight Night 82, which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Recently the former welterweight champ spoke to UFC.com about the match-up, and the former welterweight champ had this to say:

“What makes me more mad is that everybody’s like, ‘Oh, (Thompson) has got better stand-up,’” Hendricks said. “Every time I fight a striker, they’re like ‘Johny’s gonna get beat on the feet.’ They forgot all the knockouts and where did I beat Carlos Condit? On the feet. Where did I beat Martin Kampmann? On the feet. Against GSP, everybody said I had T-Rex arms and I wouldn’t be able to touch him. (Laughs) I’ll eat a jab to land a left hand. But they said you won’t be able to touch him with your left hand because his jab is so long. Guess what? I got through it, and he didn’t touch me with his jab, did he? So whenever I hear stuff like that, it just gives me more motivation.”

The decorated wrestler also noted in the story that he needs to utilize his wrestling more, as a means to set up knockouts. Hendricks will be competing for the first time since last March, when he earned a decision win over Matt Brown.