Hendricks lost because he was playing the scorecards...

[grooves12]

Watching the fight you could clearly see Hendricks thought he was in control and was winning the fight going into the 5th round (which based on damage done, he was right.)

He completely let up in the 5th round. It was clear he went into that round with the mentality that as long as he does not get subbed/knocked out that he would win a decision. THAT was his fatal mistake. If he goes out and pushes the pace and makes that round even CLOSE, he likely would have gotten the favor in the judges' minds based on the tempo of the rest of the fight.

It's his own fault he lost. Tough lesson learned. I think he will see it on tape when he watches the fight... and most importantly won't make the same mistake again.

 

[350 Mag]

Plausible......same thing Shogun did.....tnought he could coast through 5th.....

 

[jiujitsuforever]

guess johnny didn't know gsp was the champ and that he probably should've gone 100%

 

[Lev]

was it coasting or playing it safe? Can't really blame him for it. As you said, he probably thought he just needed to make sure he sees the end of the round so went cautious. It was the right thing to do (i.e. highest probability of winning/not losing)

 

[o'dubhlaoich]

Watching the fight you could clearly see Hendricks thought he was in control and was winning the fight going into the 5th round (which based on damage done, he was right.)

He completely let up in the 5th round. It was clear he went into that round with the mentality that as long as he does not get subbed/knocked out that he would win a decision. THAT was his fatal mistake. If he goes out and pushes the pace and makes that round even CLOSE, he likely would have gotten the favor in the judges' minds based on the tempo of the rest of the fight.

It's his own fault he lost. Tough lesson learned. I think he will see it on tape when he watches the fight... and most importantly won't make the same mistake again.

Yup. I cant respect that line of thinking and strategy at all.

 

[spid3yo]

Watching the fight you could clearly see Hendricks thought he was in control and was winning the fight going into the 5th round (which based on damage done, he was right.)

He completely let up in the 5th round. It was clear he went into that round with the mentality that as long as he does not get subbed/knocked out that he would win a decision. THAT was his fatal mistake. If he goes out and pushes the pace and makes that round even CLOSE, he likely would have gotten the favor in the judges' minds based on the tempo of the rest of the fight.

It's his own fault he lost. Tough lesson learned. I think he will see it on tape when he watches the fight... and most importantly won't make the same mistake again.

What in the world????? Please tell me you mean you think the judges would give him the 5th if that round was close.

 

[Porradossaurus]

Every sane person on Earth thought Hendricks was winning. Going balls to the wall when you have the fight in your hands can get you KTFO.
Hendricks is not to blame for this BS.

 

[Francis Rossi]

Given he said he was going at 70%, yeah, it was partly his own fault. It's a fucking title fight, not a sparring session.

 

[jiujitsuforever]

cant respect someone who only way to win fights is to either land a first round ko punch or try and point score and then say that they can ko anyone

 

[Heard]

I think GSP just wanted the 5th rd more than Hendricks did. I highly doubt Hendricks was fearing getting knocked out by a battered GSP and was slacking but he certainly didn't seem to go as hard for a finish either. I had it 48-47 Hendricks

 

[russianstar]

Hendricks won but lost, GSP lost but won, the outcome isn't a sum of the facts, Im not sure what the scores were I haven't bothered looking as it wont change the outcome.
life goes on, im sure we will see a lot more controversy over the next year.

 

[ZuffaExecutive]

I agree he coasted thinking he had won it already,but at the time i knew Gsp had the 3rd round and possiably the 1st though i thought it was more 3-1 hendricks,i couldnt believe Gsp was just trying to win the round and not finish him,throw some 100% headkicks actually use your right hand instead of just a jab.

And im not normally a Gsp fan,i normally root against him,but after i seen an interview the day before the fight and hendricks response to wada and vada questions when its explained to him wada doesnt test and he just keeps parroting the same bs line over and over.

I was glad when Gsps hand got raised

 

[Felis]

Even when you don't take risks you take a risk.

 

[mchestnut]

Given he said he was going at 70%, yeah, it was partly his own fault. It's a fucking title fight, not a sparring session.

Once he said this, and I rewatched the fight and saw how close round one was I stopped feeling sorry for Johnny.

You make it all the way to a title shot to give 70%, thats as bad a Nick Diaz saying he doesnt pay taxes

Just stupid and moronic thing to say. Glad GSP got the nod, Take it to the champ! Take it to the champ hard the whole fight.

Johnny lost the fight, and has himself to blame

 

[flanellograf]

It's pretty obvious his knee was hurt, so he couldn't push the pace, which means that GSP did more damage in total. GSP wins with pride scoring.

 

[meruvin420**]

He only used 70% of his powers bro, like Dana always says. Dont leave it in the hand of the judges

 

[ReadWrite]

He played not to lose - got the Champion's Disease - before he was champ!

 

[mchestnut]

He played not to lose - got the Champion's Disease - before he was champ!

edit

 

[Big Nasty Edison]

He was also playing the "can't knee a downed fighter" game by reaching to the mat with his finger tips to avoid being kneed in the head by GSP at one point as well.

He was trying to play the score cards, coast through the last round, and playing the downed fighter game. Losing the decision is just in this case.

 

[Felis]

Dont leave it in the hand of the judges

And if you do, at least don't admit it...at the post fight presser...sitting right next to Dana!

I still can't believe Hendricks was dumb enough to say it.