Hendricks: ‘I just didn’t fight’ in the championship rounds

Former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks developed a new style of fighting Saturday.

Ostriches are said to bury their head in the sand when faced with danger. Hendricks did something something similar, spending an inordinate amount of time with his head so buried underneath Lawler that “Ruthless” was unable to land an elbow or a punch.

By the end of the fight, the loud boos told what fans think of Ostrich fighting

The judges too didn’t see it for Hendricks, most of them:

Marcos Rosales had it 48-47, Lawler;

Sal D’Amato had it 48-47, Hendricks; and,

Glenn Trowbridge had it 49-46 for the neeeeeewww welterweight champion.

UFC president Dana White explained why Lawler won.

“I say to these guys all the time – ‘don’t leave it in the hands of these judges,'” said White. “You’ve got to stand up and you’ve got to go for it. I thought Johny looked good standing up. He was getting off. He was landing some punches. But then he’d go for that shot and just sit there and waste time.

“I talked to Joe Silva, who said, ‘you can’t win a fight with your head between a guy’s legs for three rounds.’ You have to stay busy. So yeah, Robbie Lawler wins this one.”

Hendricks himself conceded at the post-fight press conference that he didn’t fight in the championship rounds.

I thought I did pretty good the first three, said Hendricks as transcribed by John Morgan for MMAjunkie. In the fourth round, I started slowing down a little bit. But you can’t take nothing away from Robbie. What did I say the whole time? He’s a tough fighter. He’s a guy that you’ve got to put away. I wasn’t able to do that tonight, and the judges gave it to him.

What can I do except for come back like he did, pick myself up and get that belt back?

Hendricks offered no excuses. UFC 181 was supposed to be headlined by Chris Weidman, but when an injury took him out, Hendricks agreed to come back from bicep surgery quicker than had been planned. The former champ was asked if you could point to that as a reason for the underwhelming showing

I can’t do that, said Hendricks admirably. I’m not going to take anything away from Robbie Lawler. Robbie fought good. He deserved to get his hand raised tonight.

Look at the fourth and fifth round; I just didn’t fight. I didn’t come out the fourth and the fifth like I normally do. It is what it is.

I’m going to be my worst critic. I don’t need you guys to sit there and say, ‘Oh, he looked like s—,’ or, ‘He looked like this.’ That’s my job. That’s what it was. I didn’t stay light on my feet like I should have. I should have done a couple other things to secure my win, but you get lost in the moment. That happened to me, but I’ll be back. I’ll be back.

It is not yet certain who is next for the champ; Hendricsk said he would take the fight he was given.

That’s not my call, said Hendricks. Whatever the UFC wants, that’s what I’m going to do. That’s my management’s job and my coaches. If they want the rematch, then we’ll do the rematch. I’m perfectly fine with that.

Hendricks looked gaunt at the weigh in, the results of what was a reported 45 pound cut. He resolved to manage his weight more efficiently going forward.

First off, foremost, I need to say that I feel blessed, said Hendricks, again admirably. The good Lord blessed me with a great wife, great kids and the fighting. The fight tonight made me learn a lot about myself, a lot about what I need to do, and a lot about what I need to correct in my camp – and a lot revolves around not walking around at 215. I’m going to make that decision.

I’m going to work with Mike Dolce and stay around 195 and do everything right because I had that belt, and I want it back. I love food, too, don’t get me wrong, and that’s going to be a tough decision. But I love that belt more than food.

So what do you think UG??!? Does Hendricks get an immediate title shot? Can he beat the Baconator lust? Can you justify a judge giving Lawler four of five rounds? The fight Saturday night may have generated more questions than answers.