Once a highly touted Up-and-coming prospect and now a top 10 welterweight, Johny Hendricks is one of the best collegiate wrestlers to enter the world of professional fighting in years. During his amateur career with Oklahoma State University, Hendricks won the 2005 and 2006 NCAA Division I Championship at 165 lbs., and earned All-American honors four times along with three Big 12 Conference championships.

Following his collegiate wrestling career, Hendricks made the move to MMA, winning two fights in the WEC before the welterweight division was dissolved and Hendricks was folded into the more competitive UFC welterweight division. In his first fight with the UFC, Hendricks upset TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah with a first-round TKO victory in just 29 seconds, following that up with back-to-back wins over Ricardo Funch and TJ Grant.  Hendricks, however, would suffer the first defeat of his career at The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale to fellow wrestler Rick Story.

Big Rig took the loss seriously and would put together a two fight win streak that earned him a fight with top 5 ranked welterweight Jon Fitch.  Hendricks dealt Fitch a KO loss in the 1st round, the first loss Fitch had suffered since his title fight with GSP four years prior. Fitch followed that win up with a decision win over another top 5 welterweight in Josh Koscheck.  His latest win not only has given Big Rig a four fight win streak (the last two over top ranked WW's), but has also earned him a number one contender match up with fellow brawler, Martin Kampmann.  The two are scheduled to square off at UFC 154, with the winner potentially garnering a much coveted title shot. During the night's co main event, Hendricks came out victorious with a first round KO of the recently streaking Kampmann. 

Hendricks still relies on his wrestling base to get him through fights that are not going his way. But he also has solid power in his punches and says that he prefers to stand and strike with opponents rather than taking them to the ground. His extraordinary wrestling base suggests he might follow a trail in his physical development much like another Welterweight standout, Josh Koscheck, and add increasingly potent striking and submission skills.

Johny would face off against Carlos Condit at UFC 158 in a #1 contender's match to face the winner of the GSP vs. Diaz match up. Johny would defeat Condit by Unanimous Decision in the Fight of the Night and should now finally be in line to get the title shot he has been waiting for.