For over five years Georges “Rush” St-Pierre (24-2) has ruled over one of the most talent-rich divisions in the UFC. Consecutive dominant victories over names like BJ Penn, Matt Hughes, Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz just to name a few, have cemented his place in MMA history as the greatest welterweight champion of all time and arguably one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world today. Apart from two losses earlier in his UFC career [Matt Hughes & Matt Serra] the French Canadian has looked unstoppable winning his last eleven fights in a row and avenging both of his losses in the process. Another title defense would give GSP the record for the most victories in UFC history [ahead of the current record holder Matt Hughes at eighteen] and put him just one title defense behind Anderson Silva’s record of most consecutive title defenses at ten. So the big question on everyone’s mind is “Who can stop this guy?”
Johny Hendricks: “What makes me different?”
The number one contender spot in any division is often highly debated because of the system used to rank the fighters. If you beat someone, but that person then beats someone that beat you then it can make it difficult to properly rank the fighters as it comes down to a matter of popular opinion. Fortunately this time we’ve got the right guy – enter current UFC welterweight number one contender Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks. Hendricks (15-1) has been on a rampage through the division, apart from one decision loss to Rick Story back in December, 2010 he has completely dominated every opponent the UFC has put in front him. These victories include devastating knockouts over former UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch and top ten welterweight Martin Kampmann. He also holds decision wins over former top contender Josh Koshcheck and former interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit. This impressive list of victims makes Hendricks the unarguable number one contender and the biggest threat to end the long time reign of St-Pierre.
So what makes “Bigg Rigg” different from all of the other contenders who have tried to beat the champ and failed? During the first episode of “UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Hendricks” the UFC welterweight number one contender said that he’s not exactly sure what separates him from the rest of the division that St-Pierre has dominated for the last five and a half years.
“How long has he been the champ? Four or five years? (Five) I’m just shooting after what he holds and what he carries around every press conference. Ever since I can remember I was like: ‘Ok GSP has been the champ. I gotta’ beat GSP, I gotta’ beat GSP.’ I know many people have said this and many people have tried this and failed. What makes me different? I don’t know. I really don’t know, I can’t explain it but I feel like It’s my turn.”
Although unsure of what makes him different there are a few things that I can think of that separate him from the rest of the herd. For starters is his power – Hendricks might be the biggest power puncher pound-for-pound in the UFC especially with his left hand. [If you doubt this just ask former Fitch and Kampmann about it.] The second thing is his wrestling – on paper Hendricks is the best pure wrestler that St-Pierre has ever had to face. Hendricks is a two time NCAA division-one wrestling champion and this could cause a lot of problems for the consensus greatest MMA wrestler of all time. The third and final thing is his heart, which was on display in his last fight against Carlos Condit. Hendricks showed that he can take a shot and overcome adversity to defeat one of the very best welterweights in the sport today.
UFC 167 St-Pierre vs. Hendricks will be live on Pay-Per-view from the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas Nevada, USA on November 16th at 10pm EST/7pm PST. Good luck to both fighters and may the best man win.
