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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
With Rory MacDonald out of UFC 158 with a neck and back injury, the UFC moved quickly in securing a new fight for Carlos Condit. They pulled Johny Hendricks out of a fight with Jake Ellenberger at his request, and though Condit's disappointed in the loss of his original fight, he's looking forward to the challenge Hendricks presents.
"While I was disappointed to hear that Rory MacDonald is injured, I am glad that the UFC was able to find a strong replacement for the fight in Johny Hendricks," Condit said in a statement released late Monday. "He is one of the toughest welterweights in the world, and has quickly risen up the ladder in our division. We are similar in that we like to stay active and aggressive in our fights, so this should be a great fight for the fans to watch."
Of course, with a change in opponent comes a drastic change in preparation as well. MacDonald was a well-rounded fighter with a number of different tools at his disposal, and though Hendricks has more than one trick up his sleeve, it's his wrestling game that Condit needs to be concerned with on short notice.
"I have been training for Rory MacDonald, but there is plenty of time left to switch my focus to Hendricks. With eight weeks left, I will need every moment to be fully prepared for this battle. He's called me out in the past, and now is his chance to try to back that talk up. I'll be ready for him."
Penick's Analysis: The fight makes more sense for Condit than it might for Hendricks, because a Hendricks loss will cost him a title fight. Condit won't get back to a title fight that quickly with a win, but it will mean more for him than a win over anyone else at this stage. Hendricks gets a major boost with a win, and the title fight that has thus far eluded him, but Condit is likely a more dangerous opponent than was Ellenberger, making it an even bigger test that he's given himself here. Still, he asked for it, so he's getting it, and all he can do now is try to win the fight. If he pulls that off, it will be his biggest statement win. For Condit, a win over Hendricks will prove him still among the elite of the elite in the UFC's welterweight division.
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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