Photo by Esther Lin for MMAFighting.com
In a rather shocking upset at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem, Johny Hendricks defeated long-time #2 Welterweight Jon Fitch. And he did it in spectacular fashion, knocking Fitch out in just 12 seconds with his first punch thrown. Hendricks is now 12-1, 7-1 in the UFC, while Fitch records his first loss since losing to Georges St. Pierre back at UFC 87 and falls to 23-4-1, 1 NC overall.
For both men, this is the kind of fight that represents a clear turning point in the career. Hendricks wowed fans with his UFC debut knock out of Amir Sadollah, but has been toiling on the prelims since. This was a star making performance, and his career will literally never be the same again. For Fitch, the big talk was how he would benefit from St. Pierre's absence and could find himself finally holding UFC gold. That talk is now out the window thanks to just one punch.
What was the high spot of this fight?
The KO, naturally. It's literally Hendricks's only piece of offense in the fight, and it's spectacular.
Where do these guys go from here?
For Hendricks, something big. Yes he does have a loss to Rick Story, but he now has major momentum on his side. And with a win over Fitch on his resume, almost anyone else will feel like a step down. I'd like to see him next face Josh Koscheck in a PPV semi-main event (assuming Kos gets by Mike Pierce at UFC 143).
Fitch is in a rather precarious position suddenly. He clearly isn't going anywhere right now, but his decision based style turns off a lot of people, and it was mainly his winning ways that kept him so high up the card. I wouldn't be surprised to see him banished to the prelims next time out, perhaps against Dong Hyun Kim?
Watch it now, later or never?
Now. Like the Gustafsson fight, this one announces one of the potential break-out stars of 2012 in a huge way, while also sending one of the division's most established names crashing down the ladder.
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 141 in the full entry.
1 recs | 31 comments
Hendricks should get an immediate title shot
Just to fuck with Fitch
warren305 - January 1, 2012
lol! almost shit my pants!
gspmademegay - January 1, 2012
Where does this put Fitch in the rankings now?
Does he fall out of the top 5? Is Hendricks now infront of him? Is Hendricks now the number 2 WW? Would you put him infront of Condit, Diaz, Ellenburger, Kos? My answer: Damn the rankings!
Scribonius Curio - January 1, 2012
Hendricks is currently sitting at 18. I can see him reasonably jumping to the edge of the top 10 or a bit higher in the future rankings.
Fitch will take a bad hit, probably dropping outside of the top 5…
Pyrgz Krum - January 1, 2012
Fightmatrix now has Hendricks at 6 (Nice!) and Fitch at 9 (Ouch!)
Tedd Welch - January 1, 2012
Not top five as Hendricks still has the loss to Story, which was a relatively recent loss. Hendricks should be in the top ten though for sure.
chrisbboy82 - January 2, 2012
At least it stops all the Fitch title shot talk for now, I’m sure he’ll grind his way back up there though.
taptomyarmbar - January 1, 2012
This fight was my highlight of the night.
dynamitelungs - January 1, 2012
wouldve been mine
if i hadnt been talked out of switching my pick from hendricks tko to fitch ud.
gspmademegay - January 1, 2012
I apologize.
T.C. Engel - January 1, 2012 via mobile
he should be put in the HOF
liptondrift - January 1, 2012
It’s a little too early to throw Johny Hendricks in the HOF.
discoandherpes - January 2, 2012
Can we get Fitch vs Hardy now?
pdl - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Fitch can't handle Hardy's elite striking.
SSreporters - January 1, 2012
Fitch vs Kim
Would be so awful time would stop
II SMASH II - January 1, 2012
Humpfest
taptomyarmbar - January 1, 2012
Whatever
Kim’s the best striker in Welterweight now with the leaping front kick. Kim gun get that belt.
cager - January 1, 2012
That crane kick sent DHK back to the main card
so no, he won’t be fighting Fitch.
GreyedOut - January 1, 2012
I don't know if that makes me a bad person
but I lol’d when it happened…
Firm1 - January 1, 2012
Im a fan of both these guys. Was hard seeing Fitch lose like that, but I couldnt help but be happy for Hendricks.
Fitch will rebound, hes still one of the best WW’s on the planet.
ProfessorBLove - January 1, 2012
I wonder if this loss will make Fitch even more Fitchy, i.e. dry humping to a decision victory, or does he come to the conclusion that he has to play more aggressively to faster regain lost grounds.
S.S - January 1, 2012
First Shields and now Fitch gets blasted in the 1st round! This made me so happy!
1N87 - January 1, 2012
Both tried to wrestle the ref, as well.
Warbreezy - January 1, 2012
I just want to go on record to say that Johny Hendricks beard is amazing.
I’m very jealous of his chin sweater.
El_Ee_Oh - January 1, 2012 via Android app
Fitch fitch fitch
The pack has caught up with you now. Gsp is next.
cager - January 1, 2012
Dear Machida
This is how you get some o’ dat Anderson Silva money, player
dajulzta - January 1, 2012 via Android app
Can anyone explain to me why someone in the octagon cut off a piece of Hendrix’s beard after the fight?
jcleven1 - January 1, 2012
I saw that aswell
and I am very suprised no one else seems to be talking about it.
blodpalt - January 1, 2012
The beard is for camp.
James Brady - January 1, 2012
Fitch in Strikeforce could make sense
depending on what they would want to do with Strikeforce, it would seem like he could do something over there. I really don’t know where Fitch’s career can go in the UFC, it will be hard for him to jump up the ranks again. The reason i thought of Strikeforce is because he would be a great answer for Melendez if BJ Penn wouldn’t fight him, but i guess it would have to be a catch weight or something
mo dogg - January 1, 2012
There are still interesting fights for Fitch in the UFC like against Condit, Diaz, Ellenberger, Kampmann, MacDonald, Shields, and Akiyama to name a few. With GSP out of the picture for the time being, the belt is up for grabs. I think that most see Fitch as a top ten Welterweight still, so there’s no need for him to go to Strikeforce. After the loss to Story, Alves was in the same place as Fitch is now, and now Alves is pretty much back to a good spot in the Welterweight ladder, and I can see Fitch doing the same.
chrisbboy82 - January 2, 2012
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