Johny “Big Rig” Hendricks: Leaving Team Takedown

Former UFC middleweight champ Johny “Big Rig” Hendricks is packed up, loaded and ready to hit the road. The NCAA Division I multi-time national championship wrestler, at the collegiate wrestling powerhouse, has had weight issues in the past. But now, with the help of Lou Giordano, his weight management should be under control. Big Rigs only other “wait” issue is how long he will wait till his management works out an exit strategy from Team Takedown.

“I’ve got to wait until I get cleared out of my management,” he said. “As soon as we break clean, that’s whenever it will give me a better understanding. As of right now, that’s what I’m shooting for. But if they say no, we want to keep you until February, I’ll probably have to fight early March.” Hendricks said.

“The ones who have contacted me, if they want to work with me and be the best we can be, then that’s what it is,” Hendricks said. “But at that point, they’ll probably have to choose if they want to stay with Team Takedown or follow me, and I don’t like putting those kind of stipulations on people. I want them to be happy and do the best thing for them.”

“I still have (Oklahoma State University),” added Hendricks. “As long as I can still go to OSU and (work with) my boxing coach … now all I have to do is find a place where I can roll and do some groundwork.”

While another former champ Ronda Rousey is more than likely getting offers in the states and all over the world to join their gym, she has yet to announce any update on her camp status. Hendricks, on the other hand, will need to go back to his roots with wrestling if he wants to get his hand raised when Joe Silva calls him for the rubber match/championship with Lawler.

Interview by mmajunkie