Knockout terror Hendricks faces St-Pierre having stayed true to himself

And it had all come down to that drive to Pantego. One hundred and seventy-three miles. That's all the time Keven Hendricks had to convince his son that he
Knockout terror Hendricks faces St-Pierre having stayed true to himself
Knockout terror Hendricks faces St-Pierre having stayed true to himself /

Johny Hendricks (pictured) could well be the guy who ends Georges St-Pierre's long reign as champion.
Johny Hendricks (pictured) could well be the guy who ends Georges St-Pierre's long reign as champion :: Eric Jamison/AP

And it had all come down to that drive to Pantego. One hundred and seventy-three miles. That's all the time Keven Hendricks had to convince his son that he was making a big mistake and get the car turned around. Holding back tears, Keven said everything he could think of right up to the moment they reached the door of Velociti Fitness, home of Team Takedown, a management company that funds the grooming of top collegiate wrestlers into professional fighters.

Hendricks compiled a 103-12 record at Oklahoma State and won two NCAA Championships.
Hendricks compiled a 103-12 record at Oklahoma State and won two NCAA Championships :: Courtesy of Oklahoma State University Media Relations/SI

"We set out goals for ourselves and our children, and things come up," said Keven. "If I could go back, I don't think that I would have been so adamant about the Olympics, but on the other hand, I think Johny had something to prove. He did exactly what he set out to do and he's stayed true to himself throughout. How can you not be proud of that?"


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Loretta Hunt
LORETTA HUNT

Loretta Hunt has covered mixed martial arts since 2001. She is the co-author of Becoming The Natural: My Life In and Out of the Cage, by six-time UFC champion Randy Couture, and Let's Get It On: The Making of MMA and Its Ultimate Referee, by "Big" John McCarthy.