CONDIT: Will face Johny Hendricks on Saturday

Thus, no one needs to tell Condit he’s got a fight on his own two hands Saturday at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

	Saturday UFC 158: Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit vs. Johny Hendricks, several other fights, Bell Centre, Montreal. TV: Pay-per-view, 8 p.m.

That’s OK; fighting is what Condit does. Coming off his first loss since April 2009, in a UFC welterweight title fight against George St-Pierre, the Albuquerque native isn’t hurting for motivation in UFC 158.

“I’m just looking to come back with a vengeance, make a good showing against Johny Hendricks and get back on top in the welterweight division,” Condit said Monday during an interview session at Jackson-Winkeljohn Mixed Martial Arts. “And, hopefully, get another title shot soon.”

That road goes through Hendricks (14-1, eight knockouts, one submission). The short, powerfully built former NCAA wrestling champion has earned a reputation as one of the most devastating punchers in the 170-pound division.

“He’s got this weird left hook that starts as a round(-house) punch and somehow ends straight,” says Greg Jackson, who with Winkeljohn will be in Condit’s corner Saturday. “… Just unorthodox stuff like that.”

Despite Hendricks’ wrestling background, it seems he’s more vulnerable on the ground than in standup. His only loss came in December 2010 against Rick Story, who put Hendricks on his back and kept him there for the better part of the final two rounds.

Condit’s record (28-6, 13 KOs, 13 submissions) suggests he’s equally at home on or off his feet. If a takedown opportunity presents itself, he gladly would accept it.

He said he won’t hesitate, though, to trade with Hendricks in standup – as long as it’s on Condit’s terms.

“I’m not gonna sit there and be stupid, by any means,” he said. “I know what (Hendricks) brings to the table. He has a lot of power, and I have to be aware of that. But engaging in a striking exchange is somewhere I’m comfortable.”

Four inches taller than Hendricks at 6-1, Condit hopes to exploit his reach advantage in standup.

“I think it’s a classic matchup of the tall guy with reach versus the short, stocky guy with power,” Condit said. “One guy wants to stay on the outside, the other guy wants to get inside.

“I think it’s just gonna be a battle of wills, who can implement their game and their strategy better.”

Hendricks, perhaps on the strength of his spectacular knockout of Kampmann – who defeated Condit by decision in 2009 – has been made a slight favorite by the oddsmakers.

“It’s a little bit of motivation,” Condit said. “I’m always the underdog, so it’s familiar territory for sure.”

ROMERO CONNECTION: Condit has worked in preparation for Hendricks with Albuquerque’s Danny Romero, a former world boxing champion.

“Going to work with Danny Romero has been great for Carlos,” Winkeljohn said, “because he’s working on cleaning up his punches a little bit, no telegraphs on them.”

NO GSP: Jackson, who has worked with St-Pierre for years, has not been involved in the French-Canadian star’s preparation for his UFC welterweight title defense Saturday against Nick Diaz.

Condit originally was scheduled to fight Canada’s Rory MacDonald, a friend and teammate of St-Pierre’s. That would have created a conflict for Jackson. MacDonald withdrew with an injury, but St-Pierre was already into his preparation for Diaz.

“I’m picking up the next fight with Georges,” said Jackson – provided that fight isn’t a rematch against Condit. When St-Pierre and Condit fought in November, Jackson sat that one out.

RATED X: Last week, Condit participated in a UFC 158 teleconference – answering the first question, then sitting back and listening to an expletive-filled debate between Diaz and St-Pierre.

All the expletives came out of Diaz’s mouth. St-Pierre responded by calling Diaz an “uneducated fool.”

“It was pretty amusing,” said Condit, who defeated Diaz by decision in February 2012. “It was an entertaining call, for sure.”
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal