6. Johny Hendricks
Hendricks was a four-time NCAA All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University, where he won back-to-back national championships (2005-06). The Ada, Oklahoma, native linked arms with Team Takedown, moved to MMA in 2007 and found his way to World Extreme Cagefighting a little more than a year later. By August 2009, he was throwing hands in the UFC. Hendricks started his career 15-1, setting up a showdown with Georges St. Pierre for the welterweight championship at UFC 167. “Bigg Rigg” lost a contentious split decision to St. Pierre but marched back into the Octagon four months later to face Robbie Lawler for the vacant crown. A unanimous decision in the 2014 “Fight of the Year” brought with it UFC gold. However, Hendricks has not been the same since: A loss to Lawler in their UFC 181 rematch was followed by a series of subpar performances and two failed weight cuts that necessitated a move to 185 pounds.
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