Johny Hendricks: GSP Trying to Stay Away from Me

Johny "Bigg Rigg" Hendricks

Hendricks "more mad at GSP" than UFC

It's hard to blame Johny Hendricks for being frustrated that he's not getting first dibs at a title shot with Georges St. Pierre that many believe he rightfully earned with his third big win in a row over a top contender.

When the news broke out that tending to the heated rivalry with Nick Diaz would replace Hendricks as GSP's top priority, controversy spread like wildfire regarding which of the two challengers is more deserving of a chance for welterweight gold.

Hendricks recently became the first man to knock out Jon Fitch and Martin Kampmann in the UFC. Nick Diaz is coming off a lengthy suspension following a unanimous-decision loss to Carlos Condit.  While it would seem that deciding the rightful opponent for St. Pierre would be a no-brainer, GSP and UFC President Dana White think otherwise.

In a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, "Bigg Rigg" put his notably calm and soft-spoken demeanor to rest for a few moments to express his feelings as to why he thinks he hasn't been awarded a title shot for his stand-out performances:

" I did everything I could to put myself into that kind of position, and then just to get it revoked from me because GSP wants something else. I'm actually fighting to get my title shot while he's (Diaz) on suspension, then all of a sudden GSP throws his name in front of mine. I'm actually more mad at GSP. I'm not mad at anybody else but GSP for calling somebody else out. I think he is trying to stay away from me. What other reason is there, you know what I'm saying? I tried to analyze it and he says it because he (Diaz) talked trash. Who cares? That's the point of our sport and people do talk trash and its all fun and games, who cares what someone says over the internet or what they say to your face. You fight to prove you are worthy. I feel like I have proved that I can go with GSP and I should go with GSP and here he is keeping me out of that."

Hendricks was then asked if the UFC, not St. Pierre is the reason Diaz is next to fight for the title.

"Yes it could be a little bit of the UFC's fault, but, I'm not going to blame them. Every time someone asks me, all I want to do is look across, see GSP, and punch him, that's all I can think about, is taking that belt, or getting a shot to take that belt from him. Even here today, I'm watching videos and I'm training to fight GSP. I'm not going to give up hope and I really truly believe that I am the number one contender and I should be fighting him and hopefully he comes to his senses."

No doubt about it, Hendricks has the right to be upset. But is he correct in claiming that Georges is actually avoiding a match with him on purpose? Is the champion seriously afraid that Hendricks' powerful left hand could end his historic title reign just like that?

Whatever the reason may be, Hendricks is definitely on track to develop his own feud with GSP, fueled by what he believes is unfair treatment from UFC match-makers and possibly St. Pierre himself. Johny was clearly tested as a fighter in his latest bouts, but now the real question is how he will deal with with the curve ball the UFC has thrown at him.

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