Johny Hendricks targeted for middleweight debut at UFC Fight Night: Halifax

Former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks will be going up in weight to fight in the middleweight division for his next bout.

According to a report from Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting, the UFC is working on Johny Hendricks vs. Hector Lombard for UFC Fight Night: Halifax, which is scheduled to take place on February 19. This will be Hendrick’s middleweight debut as he has had several incidents with making the 170-pound welterweight limit and after missing weight in his bout against Neil Magny at UFC 207 in December, the former champion said he was done fighting at welterweight.

According to Helwani’s report, the UFC was looking to book Hendricks vs. Lombard fro UFC 208. However, clearance issues with the New York State Athletic Commission scrapped those plans.

Johny Hendricks holds a 17-6 professional MMA record and is on a three-fight losing streak. Hendricks was finished by TKO for the first time in his career against former UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson at UFC Fight night 82. Hendricks went on to lose a unanimous decision to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 200 where he weighed in a quarter of a pound more than the limit and then most recently lost a unanimous decision to Magny, where he missed weight by 2.5 pounds. Hendricks last win was against Matt Brown at UFC 185 where he won a unanimous decision.

Lombard is coming off a two-fight skid. Prior to his last two fights, Lombard failed his UFC 182 drug test after fighting Josh Burkman and had his initial win overturned to a no contest. Lombard tested positive for the anabolic steroid desoxymethyltestosteroneand and was suspended for one year. Lombard’s last win came against Jake Shields at UFC 171 in 2014.

Who you got for this middleweight scrap? Do you think the move up to the higher weight class will be good for Hendricks? Sound off in the comment section!

This article first appeared on 1/18/2017.