Johny Hendricks - "Jake Ellenberger is more dangerous than GSP"

Sakara=Excitement · 12-20-2012, 08:58 AM

Johny Hendricks: Jake Ellenberger More Dangerous Than GSP

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Johny Hendricks didn’t get the matchup he wanted, but he will have a fight on his hands March 16 when he meets Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158.

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“It sucks, but it is what it is,” Hendricks told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show on Wednesday.

Hendricks wanted a shot against welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. The same night he’ll be fighting Ellenberger, though, GSP will be defending his title against Nick Diaz.

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“I’ve done my campaigning,” Hendricks said. “I’ve done all I can do, and now that you have Jake Ellenberger in front of you, you can’t keep dwelling on the past. Right now if I don’t focus on Jake Ellenberger, then he could go out there and beat me just because you’re focused on something totally different. You’ve got to know Jake Ellenberger is a tough fight. It sucks that you do all this work and you’re not there, but guess what? It’s not the end of the world. I’m still able to fight. If I win this one, then I know I’ll be right where I was.”

But if he loses, Hendricks could slide down the welterweight ladder. This close to a title shot, it’s not a drop he wants to make.

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“[Ellenberger] has shown that he can knock people out, and whenever you have that kind of power, you have to respect it,” Hendricks said. “You have to know, ‘OK, this guy is a heavy-handed guy.’ … That’s what makes fighting people like that a little bit more of a challenge, a fun challenge, because no matter what happens -- it might be the second or third round -- you still have to worry about everything. It makes it that much more exciting.”

Hendricks will have plenty of time to prepare for his March date with Ellenberger, but he had actually already been training for St. Pierre.

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“We watched footage every day,” he said. “We were training stuff every day for about a week and a half before the news came out. I was excited. I thought I was going to have to compete against Anderson Silva to fight [St. Pierre]. That’s a tough person to compete against, and here it is somebody in my division that beat me to it. It is what it is.”

It’s another obstacle, but Hendricks is resolving himself to the task ahead. He considers Ellenberger just as difficult an opponent as St. Pierre and a “little bit more dangerous.”

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“[With] Georges St. Pierre you don’t have to worry about knockout punches,” Hendricks said. “You’ve just got to worry about getting taken down. [With] Ellenberger, you’ve got to worry about the punch and also his takedowns. I’ve fought a couple of guys just like that, so I think I’m prepared.”

MMA4EVERRR · 12-20-2012, 09:09 AM

LOL at Hendricks.

I'm not a fan, but I respect his place in the division and believe he is the rightful contender.

But he is crazy to say Jake is more dangerous than GSP.

GSP does have punches. Hendricks should re-watch GSP footage, especially the fight where he dropped Fitch and carved his face. The 5 round jab fest to destroy Kos's orbital. The mixture of striking with takedowns that led to the carving of Alves face. The leg kick where he dropped Matt Hughes.

While Jake is a dangerous fighter, his biggest Achilles Heel is leaving himself to get caught. Kampmann found an opening. Diego began finding some success after Jake began gassing (another weakness). Jay Heiron found some opening with his striking.

Point is, if Jake and GSP fought, it would go kinda like the GSP/Condit fight.

BonesKnows · 12-20-2012, 09:11 AM

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha more dangerous than GSP, Hendricks cant be serious.

Dont worry Johnny boy, once GSP is done wiping the floor with Diaz you will be next in line for the ass kicking of your life ala GSP vs Jon Fitch

EDIT: am i the only one that wants to see this fool get KTFO by ellenberger?

goodtimes · 12-20-2012, 09:11 AM

He's talking like Kos, saying he wouldn't be worried about GSP's strikes. Didn't work too well for him. GSP might not have one punch KO power, but he definitely has power, and you can't just eat his jabs and crosses.

0mega1 · 12-20-2012, 09:18 AM

So if Jake Ellenberger beats Hendircks will that move my boy Kampmann back into title contention with a win? God I hope Ellenberger wins!

MMA4EVERRR · 12-20-2012, 09:24 AM

You guys remember when Rick Story reeled in 6 straight wins and then replaced Anthony Johnson to face Nate Marquardt, in a match where a win would have put him title contention?

I think Jake Ellenberger can "Charlie Brenneman" Johnny Hendricks and end all this.

TODDJR88 · 12-20-2012, 09:34 AM

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha look at all the GSP fanboys butt hurt by hendricks comments. GSP has punches but not one punch ko power. He may get jabbed to death tho

BonesKnows · 12-20-2012, 09:41 AM

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Originally Posted by TODDJR88

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha look at all the GSP fanboys butt hurt by hendricks comments. GSP has punches but not one punch ko power. He may get jabbed to death tho

Yea because he jabbed Fitch/Hughes/Penn/Condit/Sheilds/Serra/Alves/Hardy to death right?? It was a good attempt on your part though.....