TUF 12 Finale to include Johny Hendricks vs Rick Story

Budding welterweight prospects Johny Hendricks and Rick Story may find themselves now in contenders status, or close to it, following their encounter which is scheduled for December.

The two division standouts have been nothing short of impressive since their time in the UFC, particularly Hendricks who remains undefeated in his professional career.

Both men are coming off some of their stronger performances since their UFC careers began in 2009–August for Johny at UFC 101 and June for Rick at UFC 99–and look to make a statement with a victory over one another.

Story is riding a 4-fight win streak inside the octagon after losing to the unblemished John Hathaway in his debut at UFC 99. He has since picked up victories over the likes of Brian Foster, Nick Osipczak, and most recently the grappling whiz Dustin Hazelett, at UFC 117.

In his bout with Hazelett, “The Horror” Story (clever name) was able to nullify Dustin’s obvious ground prowess by clinching him up against the cage, and working effective strikes in the close quarters, eventually dropping Hazelett with strong punches on the inside, and finally finished the fight early in the second round.

Hendricks like wise, picks up his 4th consecutive victory inside the UFC, and his 9th overall in 9 tries as a professional mixed martial artist. After a some-what controversial knockout victory over “The Ultimate Fighter” season 7 winner Amir Sadollah at UFC 101 in August of 2009–marking Johnny’s debut–he would go on to decision both Ricardo Funch and T.J. Grant, respectively, before meeting again with old foe Charlie Brenneman.

Hendricks, a former Division I Collegiate All-American and two-time NCAA champion in 2005 and 2006, had met with Charlie prior to their MMA match at UFC 117. On the mat on the wrestling circuit, the two battled it out, where Hendricks was able to prove to be the more successful grappler of the two.

While MMA is a different animal in of itself, it was still Hendricks who was able to keep his streak alive against Brenneman. After a close first round, which saw Charlie get the better in exchanges with Johnny on the feet and nullify some of the grappling aspect that Hendricks is so good at, it was the Cobra-Kai protege who landed first early in the second with a effective right hand. He found his openings, and after dropping Brenneman on multiple occasions–at least 5 or 6 knockdowns later, the bout was waved off and Johnny picked up his 6th stoppage victory.

Their wins, Hendricks and Story, have now propelled them out of obscurity and they are both to be featured on the main card televised portion of “The Ultimate Fighter” season 12 finale show, which will be the culmination of a season shared between coaches Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck who vie for GSP’s 170-pound title at UFC 124.

TUF 12 finale takes place on December 4 in Las Vegas, Nev., at the Palms Casino.

So, MMA peeps, who do you think takes this match up? Should the winner move into contention? And do you think either competitor proves to be a formidable force in the UFC? Let your opinions known below.