The MMA thread (Affliction, UFC, DREAM, Strikeforce, etc.) - Page 34

"Bigg Rigg" Hendricks doesn't have to concede anything as a grappler, even to GSP. Besides his punching power and martial arts skills, he's quite an accomplished wrestler: a 4-time NCAA Division 1 champion with only one loss in his senior year, or it would have been 5 times.

When I read that I wondered, why aren't the Olympics on this guy's resume? "After graduating from OSU in 2007, Hendricks moved to Las Vegas and signed with Team Takedown"


Edit: the closest I can find to an answer:

"What’s it like watching former teammates Zack Esposito and Coleman Scott have so much success in the wrestling world?
“I love it. When Coleman won the bronze at the Olympics this summer, I was probably as excited as he was because I know what it takes to get to the Olympics and what it takes to get a medal. Even though I didn’t do it, I was still probably as proud as he was.

"What attracted you to MMA?
“It was a tough decision. I lost my senior year match, and prayed about it for a little bit. I was wondering what else there was for me to do. I still wanted to compete, but I didn’t know if I wanted to go to the Olympics or go get a job. My manager asked me if I wanted to be an MMA fighter, and I wasn’t sure. I tried it, but didn’t like it the first time. I came back and prayed about it some more. We flew out to Vegas, and I trained it. I got knocked out and woke up wanting to do it. I guess that was me wanting to overcome adversity. Once I got knocked, I decided I didn’t want that to happen to me again. I made the switch over, and it’s been a good career choice for me so far.”
http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/102412aaa.html

another good one:

"Georges St-Pierre fought Jon Fitch for 25 brutal minutes.
Martin Kampmann took Carlos Condit to the limit, winning a 15-minute split decision.
Johny Hendricks? He put them both on the mat. Two left hands. Two knockouts.
Total time? 58 seconds.
If Georges St-Pierre isn't a little afraid of Johny Hendricks right now, Georges St-Pierre is a fool."
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1413312-ufc-154-results-gsp-should-be-afraid-of-johny-hendricks
Edited by grokit - 11/19/12 at 12:58pm

What do you guys think of The Juggernaut, would he have a chance?

"IF Johny Hendricks beats me @danawhite, cut me & I will be a man of my word & NEVER fight again."

Ellenberger wants Hendricks, vows to quit if he loses

Ellenberger vs Hendricks would probably make for a pretty good fight for the fans. I also think Rick Story would make for a good fight against Hendricks, despite having won against him before. Lastly, I think a match up against Condit would make for a great fight for Hendricks. Should Hendricks claim that title from GSP, we could have quite a few exciting contenders and title fights ahead of us.

It's admittedly a weird situation, at least for me, though: for a long time Koscheck, Fitch, Alves and Penn were the only real threats against GSP. Now we have these new contenders and my guess is that one of them will win that title some day, and not Alves, Kos or fitch.

As for wrestling with Hendricks vs GSP, yeah Hendricks is a good wrestler. I'm just not sure that he has adapted an offensive style of wrestling the same way GSP has. Who knows though ... all we see nowadays is that powerbomb shutting the lights off for his opponents. Perhaps we'd get to see him put on a wrestling clinic against GSP. I doubt it, but who knows. I've been a extreme fan of this sport for more than 10 years now, and all I know nowadays is that there are no certainties in any way, shape or form. Anything can really happen (remember 2007?).

Hendrick's is the man!  But I'd love to see what else he can do.  The fights are over as soon as the right hand starts popping off, then the one huge left hand and it's done.

 

Interesting story about Jake Ellenberger's brother Joe.  1 in a million blood disease, transfusions every two weeks, yikes.

Pretty good event imo.

 

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Very good sum up Coq.  

 

Mmmmm, burritos.  

 

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

 

Haha it's not burritos BJ's been eating, it's those Hawaiian plate lunches. Plus his training basically consists of drinking Heineken and Surfing. Honestly, I think BJ just took this fight "to scrap". He's not really competitive anymore, just does it for the $ I guess. He has other stuff going on like family and UFC gym so...

 

Yeah, I think Shogun should retire too. He doesn't seem competitive anymore either. His prime was in the Pride days IMO.

 

I really don't see anything special with Benson Henderson. I guess he has good leg kicks but his standup is just OK and it was really frustrating when he didn't know how to finish on the ground. I swear Nate gave up his back like at least 3 times during the fight. 

Actually, wasn't he retired before this fight?

 

The thing is he's only 33, has had less fights than he's old and unlike Shogun, he hasn't been in any major surgeries for knees (or along those lines). I won't be surprised to see him come out from his retirement a few more times. Let's wait a year or two when he realizes that he misses the sport and that he's still young enough to make another go for the belt.

 

As for Shogun, yeah. That's IMO as well. I keep hearing on Sherdog that people think he was so much better in the UFC than he was in Pride, but I just don't see that. I always liked him better in Pride, and what he did created his legacy. His belt in the UFC merely cemented his status as one of the absolutely best LHWs in the history of the sport.

 

Bendo? Nah, he's a good wrestler and always comes very prepared for a fight. I never looked at him as a dominant champ, and in fact, I still see him as somewhat of a placeholder for the title. That's also exactly how I saw Frankie Edgar as a champion. The champ, yes, but not for long and I never feel convinced enough, like I do with most other champs. Aldo, check. GSP, check. Silva, check. JBJ, check. Dos Santos, check, although the HWs are IMO spectacularly exciting now: Dos Santos, Overeem and Velasquez - those three are the top three with a big margin, and I think with the correct preparation, they could all beat eachother. Not counting anyone of them out. However, as big a fan of Overeem as I am, he's still the biggest question mark out of them - how much is hype, how big win was that K-1 belt in relation to his MMA career, how far is he from retirement, and so on.

 

We'll just have to wait and see.

 

DAMNIT!!! Two UFC cards this weekend! I had no idea... Thank you mr White! 

Edited by Coq de Combat - 12/12/12 at 10:28pm

According from what I heard on the local news is that BJ has been put on indefinite medical suspension. He can't fight unless he has medical clearance from a doctor.

That is not that unusual. Nate Diaz received it too and Bendo received the same suspension after the Frankie fight.

Pretty good event for being a TUF Finale.

 

 

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

 

Nothing more to say about that event. Later on it's the other finale! Here's hoping to see Pat Barry at least one more time after tonight. Also, I'm hoping Mitrione puts a beating on Roy, even if that's pretty unlikely. I'm hoping Ricci bites the dust tonight.

Edited by Coq de Combat - 12/15/12 at 1:26am

BIG COUNTRY!!!

I'm also a new fan of Rustam Khabilov.

 

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Nelson knocked the dude out in the first round. BC didn't look like much compared to Mitrione but he knows what the F he's doing in the octagon.

That was just one of three great knockouts tonight, along with Barry turning things around on a dime against Rosario and Khabilov's suplex takedown/KO.