Put that rubber match on hold.
It looks like Johny Hendricks won't complete that trilogy with Robbie Lawler after all—at least not right away. Instead, Hendricks will face fellow slugger Matt Brown this March at UFC 185.
That's according to UFC officials, who confirmed the bout Tuesday evening in a report to Damon Martin of Fox Sports. Fox serves as the broadcast home for many UFC events.
The bout was also announced on Twitter by UFC PR honcho Dave Sholler:
Breaking News: @WonderboyMMA vs. @RUKUSMMA303 new main in Broomfield. @JohnyHendricks vs. @IamTheImmortal in Dallas. http://t.co/SvK1ZDIC7q
— Dave Sholler (@Sholler_UFC) January 13, 2015
The original plan was for Brown to face Tarec Saffiedine in February at UFC Fight Night 60, but Saffiedine fell injured and was forced to withdraw, leaving The Immortal without a dance partner.
Luckily, Hendricks was willing to step in.
The bout between Hendricks, the former champion, and Brown, one of the division's hottest fighters, presumably precipitated the move from a cable TV main event to a pay-per-view broadcast.
Jeff Chiu/Associated Press
In early January, UFC president Dana White slated Hendricks and Lawler, the current welterweight champion, for a rubber match at a future date. Hendricks defeated Lawler for the vacant title last March at UFC 171, with Lawler returning the favor in December.
But the match between Brown and Hendricks appears to put those plans on ice for the foreseeable future.
It remains to be seen who, if anyone, might face Lawler in Hendricks' stead. Rory MacDonald, widely thought to be the top contender alongside Hendricks, has been linked to an April bout with Hector Lombard. But, theoretically, there is no reason such a bout could not be altered to free MacDonald up for a title bout, should all parties involved wish it.
On paper, Brown (19-12) vs. Hendricks (16-3) should promise to deliver major pyrotechnics. The two men have 20 combined knockout victories between them.
UFC 185 is scheduled to take place March 14, and will be headlined by Anthony Pettis defending his lightweight title against Rafael dos Anjos.
