UFC on Fox 3 Results: Following Split Decision Win Over Koscheck, Hendricks Wants Title Shot

In the co-main event of UFC on Fox 3, two former four-time All-American wrestlers went to war, as Johny Hendricks took on former no. 1 contender Josh Koscheck.  After a hard, grueling fight, Hendricks was awarded the split decision over the veteran.

Round one saw Koscheck opening with a front kick to the mid section of Hendricks.  Koscheck got the better of the strikes early against Hendricks, who winced in pain in his right eye.  Hendricks went for a takedown against the fence and had Koscheck down, but couldn’t get him flat on his back. Koscheck easily scrambled back to his feet.  For the duration of round one, Hendricks got the better of Koscheck using his patented left hand.

Koscheck got taken down briefly against the fence again in round two, but scrambled back to his feet.   Hendricks got the better of the strikes once again and Koscheck’s right eye appeared damaged, starting to swell up. Hendricks landed with a lead uppercut. To Koscheck’s credit, he put Hendricks against the fence and landed a sweeping elbow just as they broke apart.  Hendricks kept getting the better of the punches, however, and the round closed with Hendricks attempting another takedown.

The third round started with Koscheck going for a takedown, but they end up on the fence. The referee separated them again, and Koscheck tries to back up Hendricks with a right hand, but Hendricks would have none of it and started swinging for the fences.  From there, Hendricks landed  a solid knee, but Koscheck landed a clean takedown, putting Hendricks on his back.  For the duration of the round, Hendricks worked from half guard to get back to his feet, but Koscheck stayed busy grounding and pounding him.

The judges scored the bout (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) for the winner, Johny Hendricks. Hendricks was surprised that Koscheck never really went down at all during the fight, but at the end of the day, Hendricks admires Koscheck’s ability to march forward.

“That’s one tough dude man,” Hendricks said post-fight.  “I hit him with everything  I got and I did everything I could.  Hats off to goes to that dude, man; he’s a real fighter.”

Now with victories over former no.1 welterweight contenders Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, Hendricks believes he is next in line for a shot at the title.

“Give me that that title baby, I want to bring it home to Texas.”