Johny Hendricks Exclusive with AddictedMMA
Hi Johny, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I'm a big fan of yours and so are the rest of the Addicted crew!
Let's do this!
Q - What got you started in MMA? Was it your strong wrestling base?
JH - No my manager asked if I would want to fight for a living and I said I would love to try it.
Q - You finished your first four MMA fights inside the distance, did you realise you were a natural at the sport pretty early on?
JH - I wanted to believe I was but I still didn't see myself as a MMA fighter yet.
Q - Your UFC debut was against TUF winner, Amir Sadollah. Did you feel as if they were chucking you in as a "sacrificial lamb" as so to speak? It's no secret that the UFC like to get TUF winners a win on their promotional debut.
JH - Yes. I thought the UFC was thinking Amir would walk through me because he had done so with other fighters. But my whole camp was saying that they picked the wrong guy for him ( Sadollah ).
Q - Could you of written your debut script any better? UFC main card spot, against a TUF winner by TKO in dominating fashion in less than 30 seconds!! How satisfying was that?
JH - Man that will be one of best feelings ever! Because it was my UFC first time against a tough opponent. Couldn't get any better!
Q - What did you think of the nickname fans gave you after the Amir Sadollah fight...."Happy Beard Guy?"
JH - I like all my nicknames the fans have given me.
Q - You rattled off four straight wins before dropping a decision to Rick Story. Looking back on that fight what would you of done differently now?
JH - Almost everything but I'm still learning and I'm not happy. I lost by all means but it helped out my game better than anything so far.
Q - Since that fight you delivered a monster knock out to TJ Waldburger which won the knock-out of the night award. For a wrestler you have great striking, is that also something that has come naturally to you?
JH - Yes I feel god blessed me with good eyes and hands.
Q - After that fight you called out Diego Sanchez. What's the reasoning behind that? You must be fairly confident of getting the win?
JH - He is a tough fighter and he has done a lot within this sport. I just was looking for a fight like that. You don't know if you are going to win or lose, that seems fun for me.
Q - Who are you backing in the welterweight title fight at the end of the month and why? GSP or Shields?
JH - GSP, I don't know if Shields has anything to make GSP lose.
Q - There has been a lot of talk about drawn matches recently with a couple of high profile matches being called a draw. What's your take on the situation? Are you in favour of sudden death rounds? I'm personally in favour of them.
JH - This one is hard. Sometimes the fighters can't make it that much longer. Because they have left it all out there in the first three rounds. I think if it comes to that let them re-watch the match and score it so someone wins.
Q - Are there any other rules you'd like to change or introduce whilst we're on the subject?
JH - No I like them where they are at. I'm just now getting to where I know all them I think and if we lost some or gained some I would have to start all over!
Q - By the start of 2013 where will Johny Hendricks be in the MMA world?
JH - I would like to see myself at the top or around the top five. One thing about this sport is that you have to believe in yourself because if you don't then it will be a long night in the octagon.
Q - Is there anyone you would like to thank or give a shout out to?
JH - All my training partners at the gym here in Arlington Texas and team takedown, Ecko, family, friends and most important is God for giving me a chance to do this.
Q - Finally our signature question, what are you addicted to?
JH - Video games, hunting fishing and Copenhagen LOL
Many thanks for taking the time out for us Johny, all of us at AddictedMMA wish you all the best in the future.
To learn more about Johny you can visit http://www.teamtakedownfighters.com/JohnyHendricks.html
Published by Steve Wickett - Fri, 8 Apr 2011 20:55
