Johny Hendricks’ fight at UFC 207 could be his last.
Hendricks was at the top of the UFC welterweight division less than two years ago but now finds himself in a hole two losses deep. And he plans on retiring if he doesn’t climb out of that hole in December by defeating his opponent, Neil Magny.
“The last two I have lost, fair and square, I know I have,” Hendricks told ESPN’s Five Rounds (transcription via VendettaFighter.com). “Realistically, if I go out there — and hey, crazier things have happened — I go out there and lose, that’s when it’s time to say, ‘I’m done.’ I’m not gonna keep fighting to hopefully find a person I can beat.”
“Bigg Rigg” became the welterweight champion with a unanimous decision win over Robbie Lawler in early 2014, only to sit out for most of the year and lose the belt in a rematch with Lawler in December of that year.
Hendricks got back on track with a win over Matt Brown at UFC 185, but has since dropped two in a row: a stoppage to Stephen Thompson and a decision to Kelvin Gastelum, both this year.
UFC 207 takes place live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 30. In the main event, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes welcomes Ronda Rousey back to the cage.