UFC
UFC Champ Johny Hendricks says he's now targeting December or January return
Jul 18, 2014 - 8:15:19 PM UFC Champ Johny Hendricks says he's now targeting December or January return

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Johny Hendricks was hoping to get back between September and November of this year, but it looks like that will be pushed back a bit.

In an interview with FoxSports.com, the UFC Welterweight Champion said he's looking at a December or January return now, and it's all dependent on how well his recovery comes along.

"Right now, I'm training, my doctor won't clear me for another five or six weeks but I'm training," Hendricks said. "I'm getting to load my biceps up, I'm getting to do the things I need to do, which is great, I love it. I'm hoping by the end of the year. I think I can get there and be fine. I think there's a December card or a January card, one of those two. With my doctor being happy and me being 100-percent healthy I think that would be the best thing out there."

"Whenever I'm healing the doctor doesn't know if my body heals faster or slower. Did I do the right things or did I do something stupid and re-injure it? You just can't tell any of those things. I did everything right, my body healed up right -- I'm throwing punches, I'm hitting the heavy bag, I'm hitting the speed bag, I'm doing like light, light sparring, but I'm trying to get back to where I need to be. That's what the doctor wants."

Hendricks thinks his current injury issues came because of over-exerting himself with his schedule, but now that he's got some mandatory time off to recover, he's feeling like he'll return at 100% when he gets back.

When he comes back, it will likely be against the winner of next week's Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Brown event, and he's fine with either matchup.

"I don't care. If Robbie Lawler wins, cool, I get to face Robbie Lawler at 100-percent that's kind of exciting to me. If Matt Brown wins, I get to train for somebody new, I get to develop some different skills. Either way, I'm happy," Hendricks said. "I've never been a person to pick fights, or sat down and said this is who I want to fight. My job is to fight not to negotiate. Whoever they pick, all I need to know is when and where so I can know when to make weight and who to train for."

Penick's Analysis: It's not a good thing for the UFC that yet another potential title fight will be delayed further, but Hendricks needs to be healthy when he returns, so however long it takes is however long it takes. Hopefully he will be 100% when he gets back to the cage, wherever and whenever that fight comes.