It’s uncommon in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world to see individuals truly retire, but Johny Hendricks is one of the rare exceptions. Hendricks, who was a celebrated figure in the UFC Welterweight Champion scene, made his departure from MMA quite clear back in 2018. At only 34 years of age, following consecutive losses to Tim Boetsch and Paulo Costa, another former title contender, Hendricks decided to hang up his gloves.
Although his retirement from MMA was firmly decided, Hendricks couldn’t resist one more combat experience and stepped into the world of bare-knuckle boxing. It was in this brutally engaging sport that he would face off in another match. Unfortunately, this last battle ended in defeat, a TKO marking his journey’s end in the ring during the same year.
A retrospective view of Hendricks’ illustrious career shines a spotlight on his remarkable achievements. The fighter, often referred to as ‘Big Rig’, crushed some of the biggest names in the welterweight rank. These triumphant battles saw Hendricks defeat iconic fighters like Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit, and he even came close to usurping the throne from Georges St-Pierre, the reigning champ in 2013.
Now aged 41, Hendricks, a decade since his fighting prime, admits to a deep-seated longing for the exhilarating world of MMA. He confesses, with a poignant sense of nostalgia, that he misses the thrill and unpredictability that is inherent to this competitive realm. ‘I crave the rush of competition. I miss the unforeseeable,’ confessed Hendricks.
Hendricks elaborated on his longing for MMA, expressing his love for the sport’s rapidly shifting dynamics. ‘Every second you had to adjust, each moment you had to be awake to the perils and opportunities of victory or defeat, right? That’s what I savored,’ he recalled. ‘Once the love for the game morphed into an obligation, I knew my retirement wasn’t far. But there are moments when my heart yearns to re-enter the ring.’
When probed about his contemporary connection with MMA, Hendricks revealed that he occasionally engages with UFC fixtures. Yet, he doesn’t frequently indulge as he realizes that the riveting action could potentially lure him into unretirement. He noted, ‘I occasionally find joy in guessing the outcomes, but largely, I maintain a distance from the sport.’
Hendricks subtly admitted that this distance from the sport isn’t as welcomed as it might appear. He said, ‘It’s not that I don’t want to watch more of the sport, but I apprehend that it might reignite my desire to return to fighting.’ This suggests a profound, albeit restrained, yearning for the fight game that still lingers in his heart.
Following his 2018 MMA farewell, Johny Hendricks resumed a path familiar to him – wrestling. He took up the mantle of coaching, passing on his invaluable experience and observations to budding professionals. But his journey did not end here. Later, Hendricks directed his pursuit towards nurturing safety and lawfulness, becoming a police officer in Texas.