It's been six months since Johny Hendricks became the UFC welterweight champion by defeating Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision at UFC 171. It may be another six months before he defends his new title.
Shortly after the Lawler fight, Hendricks' camp announced that he would have surgery to repair a torn right biceps, an injury he fought through during the title bout. On Monday, Hendricks' wrestling coach Kenny Monday told ESPN that the champ is "about 85 percent" healed.
"I know everyone would have loved January," Monday said, "but it doesn't look like that's going to work out. I'm thinking he fights in February or March."
Also factoring in to the timing is that the UFC and Hendricks' camp will want him main-eventing a pay-per-view in his return, and the UFC's PPVs through Jan. 31 are booked. When he does return, it's expected that Hendricks will have a rematch with Lawler, who has won back-to-back fights in the short time since losing the title fight, giving him five wins to just one loss since the beginning of 2013.
