Pierce: Hendricks’ Wrestling Credentials Don’t Matter
Mike
Pierce knows Johny
Hendricks’ wrestling resume. He knows he was a four-time
All-American at Oklahoma State. He knows he won two national
titles.
He just doesn’t think it will matter when they fight Saturday at UFC 133.
“MMA is a different sport,” Pierce (Pictured) said on the Sherdog
Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “We’re not just wrestling.
We’re not just kickboxing. It’s everything. … I don’t really care
how many national titles he has or what color belt he has or what
kind of title he has. It just doesn’t matter. It’s a different
game.”
With that said, Pierce does credit Hendricks for his wrestling skill. He also pointed out, though, that Hendricks is willing to strike too.
Pierce’s teammate Chael Sonnen has contributed to the prefight excitement. On his Twitter account, Sonnen posted that Pierce is going to give Hendricks “the type of beating that will make [Wanderlei Silva’s] last fight seem like a long drawn out war.”
“I didn’t ask Chael to say anything actually,” Pierce said with a laugh. “He just -- I think it was like at 2 in the morning or something crazy. I was actually up just playing around online or watching TV, I can’t remember what it was, and I saw that Tweet and I just started laughing. Like, ‘Oh, Chael’s trying to stir the pot a little bit.’ I think it was cool.”
The added attention probably can’t hurt Pierce, who’s looking for his fifth UFC win in six bouts.
“I’m looking to make a point in this fight,” Pierce said. “I want to go out there and finish this guy. I know he’s never been finished. He’s only lost by decision, and I’d like to be the first one to end him.”
Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:09:25).
He just doesn’t think it will matter when they fight Saturday at UFC 133.
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With that said, Pierce does credit Hendricks for his wrestling skill. He also pointed out, though, that Hendricks is willing to strike too.
“He has been, as of lately, really liking to throw leather and
TKOing and knocking guys out,” Pierce said. “I kind of expect this
to be a little bit of a brawl. He kind of has a similar fighting
style to what I do. I like to get in there and take guys to the
ground and ground-and-pound and also throw some leather and put
guys to sleep. I think it’s going to be an exciting fight.”
Pierce’s teammate Chael Sonnen has contributed to the prefight excitement. On his Twitter account, Sonnen posted that Pierce is going to give Hendricks “the type of beating that will make [Wanderlei Silva’s] last fight seem like a long drawn out war.”
“I didn’t ask Chael to say anything actually,” Pierce said with a laugh. “He just -- I think it was like at 2 in the morning or something crazy. I was actually up just playing around online or watching TV, I can’t remember what it was, and I saw that Tweet and I just started laughing. Like, ‘Oh, Chael’s trying to stir the pot a little bit.’ I think it was cool.”
The added attention probably can’t hurt Pierce, who’s looking for his fifth UFC win in six bouts.
“I’m looking to make a point in this fight,” Pierce said. “I want to go out there and finish this guy. I know he’s never been finished. He’s only lost by decision, and I’d like to be the first one to end him.”
Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:09:25).
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