After all, Hendricks managed to win the NCAA Division I wrestling title in both 2005 and 2006 for Oklahoma State at 165 pounds. And the national titles aren’t just a college phenomenon, either, as we’re talking about a guy that was once the 160 pound high school national champion as well. What’s more, he was also a four time All American in college, three time Big 12 Champion champ, and a three time state title holder during his high school years.

So when you consider how well wrestlers like Dan Severn, Matt Hughes, Dan Henderson, and Randy Couture—amongst many others—have transitioned to the MMA game, you’ve got to wonder what that means for a guy like Johny Hendricks.

The great thing is that we’re beginning to find out. Thus far in his short MMA career, the former Oklahoma State star is 2-0 with two (T)KO’s to his credit. And on Friday, March 15, 2008 we’re all going to get a chance to see him on HDNet Fights when he takes on Blake McDaniels (5-0) at the Expo Square Pavilion in Tulsa, Oklahoma in a joint venture between HDNet Fights and the Xtreme Fighting League.

And if you’re wondering what Hendricks is thinking coming into the bout, you’ve come to the right place, as he was gracious enough to tell Submit To MMA just that between training sessions.

Submit To MMA: How are you doing?

Johny Hendricks: Not too bad. Just about to go train with Marc Laimon.

Submit To MMA: How’s training been going for you?

Johny Hendricks: Putting in 6-8 hr days everyday.

Submit To MMA: That’s a lot of time. Who have you been training with?

Johny Hendricks: Marc Laimon for jiu jitsu (and) the guys at Cobra Kai. And with pretty much all the guys at Randy Couture’s gym as well.

Submit To MMA: I recently read an article in Fight! Magazine on just how intense the training is over there at Xtreme Couture. Is the expectation there just higher than other places? How have you found it?

Johny Hendricks: The fighters have high expectations for whoever’s in that room. If you goof off, they’re going to tell you about it. They’re going to tell you, hey, this is what needs to be done.

Submit To MMA: You have a great wrestling resume and everyone knows that’s an excellent background to have for MMA. How has that helped you in making the transition to MMA?

Johny Hendricks: Wrestling has helped me a lot (from a preparation standpoint). You’ve got to have a strong discipline and be able to workout everyday (in MMA). You have to be able to train as hard as you can everyday. And that’s what these guys expect out of you. . . I like that; I like that a lot. . . Because you should know this is what they expect of you and this is what you need to do. If not, they’re going to tell you. You better pick it up or they’ll make you pick it up.

Submit To MMA: How has your stand up/ boxing been coming along?

Johny Hendricks: My boxing’s been coming along great. I’ve been training that hard everyday for eight months. Besides my wrestling, that’s my best thing.

Submit To MMA: Awesome. What do you know about your opponent, Blake McDaniels, and what do you think of him?

Johny Hendricks: I know that he’s been disrespecting me. Let him do what he wants to do. Let him try to get a rouse out of me. . . I’m not really too worried about what he says or what he does.

What happens with these guys— if they beat us (us being he and some members of Team Takedown) they did something, you know what I mean? If we win, we did what we were supposed to do. Even though we’re new at this game and I’ve only had two fights my whole life in the MMA world. That puts a little bit more pressure (on me) because they’re going in here thinking—these guys are getting all the press. . . If we can beat them then we have a better chance of making a name for ourselves. . .

(Then again) I like the pressure. The pressure’s awesome. Like I always say, it’s going to make a champion or break a champion.

Submit To MMA: Yeah, your background puts a higher expectation on you right now.

Johny Hendricks: Exactly. Is it going to make me, or is it going to break me?

That’s good (the expectations) because I’m going to be getting the best out of everybody. Every time I fight, I’m going to be getting the best out of them (opponents). That’s what I want. Just like our motto at Oklahoma State. (When) you’re wearing the Oklahoma State colors, they fear you (so) they’re going to be wrestling you to death. Are you going to step up to the plate or are you going to back down? College wrestling has prepared me so well for this.

Submit To MMA: What do you expect of McDaniels in terms of fighting style. From what I read, he’s a definite submission fighter.

Johny Hendricks: Yes, that’s what he does. But when guys like Marc Laimon aren’t tapping me out . . . (I mean) they’re black belts over there, so they catch me sometimes, yes. But when you’re throwing punches. . . I don’t care who you are, whenever you get hit upside the head or in the jaw with a heavy left or right hand, you’re not thinking about submissions. You’re thinking, I’ve got to get up because that just hurt.

Submit To MMA: You’re thinking survival.

Johny Hendricks: Exactly. Jiu jitsu is a great thing to learn but this is fighting. He could be a black belt and I still wouldn’t fear him because you can’t have fear in this game. You’ve got to go in there thinking you can win because that’s what he’s thinking, know what I mean? He’s thinking, I’m going to beat the crap out of this guy. You have to go in there thinking that you’re going to win. Nothing else matters but winning.

Submit To MMA: Was there anybody coming in that you looked up to in MMA and wanted to model yourself after?

Johny Hendricks: Two different people. I liked the way that Phil Baroni fought. And I liked the way that Randy Couture controlled people. So I wanted to mimic those two fighters.

Submit To MMA: I guess the common thread between them is that they’re both very tough guys. Everyone knows about Couture, and Phil Baroni didn’t even tap out when he was getting choked by Shamrock.

Johny Hendricks: Exactly. They’re in it to get their hand raised or to get unconscious.

Submit To MMA: Do you have a prediction for the fight?

Johny Hendricks: I always tell people that I’m hoping to get a TKO. My goal for every fight is to knock somebody out. I love that feeling when you see their eyes go back in their head. I would like for every fight to end with a knockout. Is that going to happen? No. But I would like to have the referee stop this. That’s my goal.

Submit To MMA: You have a lot of wrestling fans starting to follow you and starting to follow guys from Team Takedown. Jake’s (Rosholt) been doing well and so have some of the other guys. What do you have to say to the fans out there?

Johny Hendricks: Thank you for always supporting me and supporting me in this as well. I know it’s off the beaten path. OSU—I’m coming back. Whenever I’m done with this, I’m coming back to OSU— to my roots— and hopefully coach there someday.

Submit To MMA: Listen, Johny. I know you’re really busy, and I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me. Hopefully we get to do it all again sometime. Good luck in the fight.

Johny Hendricks: Thank you so much. You have a great day, okay?

Thanks to Ted Ehrhardt from Team Takedown for setting this interview up.

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