Former UFC Welterweight Champion Johny Hendricks is taking on Tim Boetsch in a few short weeks at UFC Fight Night 112.
The last person that a returning Georges St. Pierre last fought before leaving the sport for three-plus years was Hendricks.
With GSP returning later this year, the man who lost in the first encounter at UFC 167 seeks to retire the Canadian one more time.
“I can’t wait to retire him again. That’s really what I’ve been thinking,” Hendricks said on Submission Radio. “You know, I told him, I have no disrespect for the guy. He did amazing things. But three years out of it, you know, things have changed. And he said that I’m washed out. Well, guess what? It’s a new Johny at 185. And I cannot wait for him to see; I can’t wait to see how this happens. Because win or lose, I think he should come after me. I think I should get that loss back. Realistically, you know, it is what it is, but I would like to do it again. I really do. And this time, he thought I was strong at 170? Wait until he feels me at 185 when I’m not killing myself to make weight, when I’m not killing myself just to focus on my weight cut. What is he going to think after the 185-pound match, when I’m totally focused on one thing and one thing only, doing what I did but better? That’s really where my head’s at, is right there.”
Ironically, the Oklahoma native is competing in the same division as GSP is, but both fought at welterweight in their first clash.
GSP could become the middleweight champion if he defeats Michael Bisping later this year and a title rematch with GSP would be fine for Hendricks.
“No, more important is always the title. … The only reason he’s on my radar right now is because, guess what? If he does beat Bisping, then I want him,” Hendricks said. “Like I said, my goal is to take that belt away and retire him again. That’s all that I can think of. But if he doesn’t win and (the UFC says) ‘you’ve got to fight Bisping,’ then I’d choose Bisping over him any day of the week.”
UFC Fight Night 112 takes place on Sunday, June 25 from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with Michael Chiesa and Kevin Lee headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on Fox Sports 1.
