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UFC 171 is rapidly approaching, with the welterweight championship on the line when Johny "Bigg Rigg" Hendricks enters the octagon to face Robbie "Ruthless" Lawler. Lawler will enter the match with a 82 percent KO/TKO ratio, but Hendricks believes he will take care of business, and spoke of wanting another crack at Georges St-Pierre.
"I hope we get him back," Hendricks said of "Rush." "I hope I can get this belt and get a couple fights underneath me, and he comes back. That's what I'm shooting for."
St-Pierre won a controversial decision when the two last met, and then vacated his belt while taking an indefinite leave from action. Many believe Hendricks was the actual winner, and Bigg Rigg believes he is improving.
"Would you want to look like that after another fight?" Hendricks said after being asked if he'd be given another chance vs. GSP. "You can't take me down, you can't hurt me on the feet, and here's the thing - that was my first five-round fight. I'm getting better. I'm getting stronger now that I know how to run my camps. So yeah, I think a little bit has to do with that."
Those factors are more relevant for Lawler, the man whom Hendricks will be actually facing while the focus remains on the departed legend. GSP even weighed in on the upcoming match, giving Hendricks the nod.
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"It's a fight where anything can happen. Both guys can put each other to sleep," St-Pierre speculated. "They have a lot of power in striking, but I believe Hendricks has the edge in this fight because I believe he will come more well-prepared with his team and he's got an edge in the grappling department."
If Hendricks gets past Lawler and never faces GSP again, he will move on. "He's just a man," Hendricks said.
"I've proved enough my last fight, and if he doesn't come back, I proved enough. If I continue to win and do everything that I'm able to, then it doesn't matter. Because by that time, hopefully they won't forget him, but in five years or 10 years, they'll forget who I was.
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