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Tim Boetsch licking his chops at chance to put away ex-champ in hostile territory

[sigallery id=”5vUEqhDrdmKpEAxAvtnHb6″ title=”Tim Boetsch” type=”sigallery”]

OKLAHOMA CITY – Hard-hitting middleweight Tim Boetsch has never backed down from a challenge, and when he was offered a shot at former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, “The Barbarian” said he absolutely jumped on the opportunity.

“I was really excited,” Boetsch told MMAjunkie. “I knew Johny was moving up in weight class, and any time you get to fight a former world champ, me personally, I like to jump all over that opportunity. So here we are, and right in his backyard, so it’s going to be a great fight.”

Boetsch (20-11 MMA, 11-10 UFC) and Hendricks (18-6 MMA, 13-6 UFC) meet in the co-main event of Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 112 event, which takes place at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. The main card airs on FS1 following prelims on FS2 and UFC Fight Pass.

Hendricks now lives in Texas but was born in Ada, Okla., just 80 miles from Oklahoma City. He was also a former collegiate wrestling national champion at the nearby Oklahoma State University, so the crowd will certainly be on his side.

Boetsch is undeterred.

“I know the fans are going to be awesome – probably a lot of them will be rooting for Johny, but that’s OK,” Boetsch said. “I’ve been in hostile territory before, and it’s turned out alright for me, so I’m excited.”

More than anything, the fight might serve as an evaluation of what Hendricks can accomplish at middleweight. He swears he’s done with cutting to 170 pounds, but his 5-foot-9 frame could be outsized at 185.

Both men are known for their heavy hands, and Boetsch insists he’s not taking the former welterweight lightly – but is expected one heck of a scrap.

“It’s going to be a great fight, and matchup-wise, I think it’s going to be very exciting for everyone involved,” Boetsch said.

To hear more from Boetsch, check out his complete media scrum from Friday’s open workout session in the video above. Or check out his workout in the video below.

And for more on UFC Fight Night 112, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

 

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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