UFC
Johny Hendricks disappointed in not getting title shot, still excited for Martin Kampmann bout
Jun 14, 2012 - 12:35:00 PM Johny Hendricks disappointed in not getting title shot, still excited for Martin Kampmann bout

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Johny Hendricks has had his hopes of a title shot slightly dashed this last week, as Martin Kampmann's surprising knockout of Jake Ellenberger has put the two of them on equal footing in the UFC's eyes. Hendricks thought he had earned his shot at the title with his win over Josh Koscheck in May, but now he'll take on Kampmann instead this November, with that winner then fighting for the UFC Welterweight Championship.

It's a fight he's willing to take, but he's certainly disappointed in the way things have played out in the last month.

"It is what it is," Hendricks said in an interview with MMAFighting.com. "I feel like I fought the best guys at 170 in our division and I've won, but it looks like I have to get through one more person, and that's just the way it goes. You can either sit here and complain about it or you can sit there and do your best to win it."

"Of course you're disappointed. You get promised a title shot and then something happens and it doesn't happen. But then again, that's the nature of this business. There's always good fights going on, you just have to win each one."

Still, knowing the volatile nature of the UFC's fight cards these days, Hendricks will be fully prepared for November's UFC 154 event, and if the opportunity should present itself to put him into a title fight, he'll be ready. Either way, he says he's ready for his next step in the UFC's welterweight division.

"I'm training for a five-round fight because if one of them gets hurt, I got to take my opportunity when I can," Hendricks said. "I'm always excited for a fight. If you don't go into a fight excited, you'll lose. [Kampmann's] had some good fights. He's lost rounds but ends up winning. That's who Kampmann is. You have to go in there and finish him. My next goal is to do that."

Penick's Analysis: The fight with Kampmann will be huge for Hendricks. He's picked up two really good wins in a row, but going into Montreal in November and defeating Kampmann will leave no question that he should be the next fighter in line for a title shot in the division. That's what he's got to do. He's got to win this fight, and do so convincingly, and there will be no more waiting, and no one else leapfrogging him for that title fight. This is his big opportunity, and if he does what he needs to do, he can certainly take advantage of that.