The former UFC welterweight champion Johnny Hendricks 3-7 in his last 10 fights, or an even a worse statistic 1-6 in his last 7 fights and currently riding a two-fight skid, is apparently considering a move back to welterweight.
Hendricks has had many well-documented struggles making weight when he was at welterweight before, his earlier two fights scheduled at welterweight he missed weight, hence the more or less forced move to try middleweight, and even though he has clearly struggled at middleweight, a move back down to welterweight is not only surprising but worrying also.
After rising through the welterweight rankings Hendricks challenged GSP in 2013 for the UFC welterweight title which ended with him coming off at the short end of a highly controversial points decision, many including Dana White thought he clearly won the fight.
Hendricks and Robbie Lawler fought for the vacant title a few months later as a result of the ‘retirement’ of GSP, this time Hendricks got the verdict and he was crowned the UFC welterweight champion. However his reign would be short-lived, he lost the rematch to Lawler, and despite beating Matt Brown next time out, he lost his next 3 fights to Stephen Thompson, Kelvin Gastelum and Neil Magny. Hendricks got back in the win column when he beat Hector Lombard in his middleweight début, but two further defeats to Tim Boetsch and Paulo Costa in 2017 both by stoppage, has made him reevaluate his career and a possible move back down to his former weight in a bid to recapture his former glories.
Currently, a free agent, Hendricks 35 and with an MMA record of 18-8, is at a crossroads in his MMA career, and even though he says he has plenty left, considering retirement might be a better move than considering a move back down to welterweight.
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