New UFC Welterweight Champ Johny Hendricks to Undergo Surgery for Torn Bicep

Johny Hendricks is facing a couple months on the shelf. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

The newly crowned UFC welterweight champion disclosed the injury Wednesday during an interview with “The Kevin and Bean Show” on Los Angeles-area radio station KROQ.

“There were a couple of my game plans I was not able to function. I wasn’t really able to take him down due to an arm injury,” Hendricks said before being asked if he thought about pulling out of the fight. “We contemplated it. I tore my bicep... I tore it, like, 10 days beforehand. We tried to heal it. We tried to do everything we could to prevent me using it, but when the fight came, you had to use it or not. And that’s why I wasn’t able to get takedowns, because of that injury.”

Hendricks outlasted Lawler in a punishing, 25-minute affair last Saturday in Dallas, where the former Oklahoma State University wrestler sealed the unanimous decision with a strong final round which included a crucial takedown. Hendricks feels that both he and Lawler saw the final frame as do or die.

“I think we both knew that it was ours to win or ours to lose going into that fifth round,” said the Oklahoman. “Him coming off a good third and fourth round, I think he had a little bit of the momentum his way; thank God that I was able to switch it to my favor.”

When asked what fight will be next for the newest UFC titlist, Hendricks responded that he will have to deal with his injured arm before eyeing any potential title defenses.

“I gotta have surgery on Monday, and that’s pretty much my main focus. I’ll focus all my training to healing, to get myself back to 100 percent, so I can come back a stronger, better fighter,” Hendricks said. “[Doctors] told me six weeks I’ll be down. Then, six weeks later, I’ll be able to start using my arm and it’ll be back to 100-percent. So, I’m hoping that the timeline’s eight weeks.”