Johnny ‘Big Rig’ Hendrix is far from ascending the ladder and his career seems to be fading with a streak of losses. Ever since he lost the title he has picked up only a single victory that was followed by two big losses. Now he is scheduled to fight Neil Magny at UFC 207 and feels that this would be his final fight in the UFC if he loses.
Hendricks spoke his mind to ESPN’s Five Rounds:
“The last two I have lost, fair and square, I know I have. Realistically, if I go out there — and hey, crazier things have happened — I go out there and lose, that’s when it’s time to say, ‘I’m done.’ I’m not gonna keep fighting to hopefully find a person I can beat.”
Only a few years ago, Hendricks was on the top of the rankings in his division where most of the fans and pundits, including Dana White, felt that he had defeated George St-Pierre in their title fight back in 2013.
The next year he sat on the throne after winning the vacant UFC Welterweight Championship, when he defeated Robbie Lawler at UFC 171. But soon he lost the title to Lawler in a rematch at UFC 181.
Hendricks picked himself up with a win when he dominated Matt Brown at UFC 185 but that wasn’t sufficient for him to secure a title fight as many thought Stephen Thomson was also a rightful contender. When the two collided in the cage the older Hendricks got knocked out in the first round.
As a result, Thompson became the #1 contender for the title and now is scheduled to fight Tyron Woodley at UFC 205 for the title.
Later, he was matched up with Kelvin Gastelum at the biggest event in UFC’s history, UFC 200. He lost for the second time in a row, which demoted him to a lower spot in the rankings. Now, he has to prove to everyone that he was the same fighter who had epic battles with GSP and Lawler, when he faces Magny on a day prior to New Year’s Eve, at UFC 207, that will take place in the T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas.
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