Carlos Condit: “Hendricks has called me out in the past, and now is his chance to try to back that talk up.”

As reported earlier, Carlos Condit will not be fighting Rory MacDonald as MacDonald was forced out of the fight with a back injury. The UFC scrambled to find a new fight for Condit, and it didn’t take long. According to reports, Condit will now face knockout artist Johny Hendricks in the co-main event at UFC 158: St-Pierre vs. Diaz.

In a statement from the fighter’s management, Condit gave his thoughts on MacDonald and on his new opponent Hendricks:

“While I was disappointed to hear that Rory MacDonald is injured, I am glad that the UFC was able to find a strong replacement for the fight in Johny Hendricks. He is one of the toughest Welterweights in the world, and has quickly risen up the ladder in our division. We are similar in that we like to stay active and aggressive in our fights, so this should be a great fight for the fans to watch.”

“I have been training for Rory MacDonald, but there is plenty of time left to switch my focus to Hendricks. With eight weeks left, I will need every moment to be fully prepared for this battle. He’s called me out in the past, and now is his chance to try to back that talk up. I’ll be ready for him.”

Malki Kawa, Condit’s manager was excited about the change as well:

“Fighting Johny Hendricks is the perfect opportunity for Carlos to earn another shot at the UFC Welterweight title. Hendricks is the perfect replacement for Rory, keeping a number one contender bout intact. It’s going to be an exciting fight.”