Johny Hendricks recalls sparring session with Kelvin Gastelum

In less than two weeks, at UFC 200, former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks will square off against Kelvin Gastelum in a pivotal welterweight matchup.

Hendricks is coming off the first KO/TKO loss of his career at the hands of #1 contender Stephen Thompson, who finished Hendricks with a beautiful display of kicks. Gastelum on the other hand is coming off a split decision loss to Neil Magny in his return to welterweight.

Ahead of the fight, Hendricks spoke to Submission Radio to explain why it will be a rough night for Gastelum:

“He likes to move forward. That’s something that I can definitely use against him. And the way that he throws punches – I’m not gonna get into too much of the details because some of it is my gameplan – but the way that he does certain things, I have figured out, I’ve watched the footage and I think I’ve figured out how to use that against him. And I really, really hope that he is gonna fight that way, but I’ve also prepared for a guy who knows that I can hit hard, that knows that he’s sparred me before and it didn’t go well. So what I’m thinking is that he might do a little bit of both, where he’s going to try to come out and see if he can set up himself to be a forward fighter and come forward. And once I do what I’m supposed to do and once I do all that, then he will turn into a guy that might try to throw a couple of punches and run.”