Carlos Condit hasn’t seen UFC action since suffering a torn ACL and partially torn Meniscus at UFC 171 at the hands of Tyron Woodley. Condit joined MMA Fighting to discuss his return and who he thinks has the best chance of dethroning Johny Hendricks.

“I’m feeling pretty good. It’s coming along, it’s slow going, but I’m getting there. I’m probably not going to be fighting again until early next year. Right now I’m not even allowed to run, let alone hit pads or grappling or anything like that. So I got a little ways. I’m still in the gym five days a week with physical therapy, which is very involved, it’s some of the hardest workouts that I’ve done. Also, working my upper body, doing what I can to stay fit. I can’t fall off too much.”

With the welterweight division being stacked, and a title shot being awarded to the winner of Lawler vs. Brown, Condit was asked who he thought had the best chance of defeating Hendricks.

“Honestly, I think it’s Lawler. He looked great in his last fight. At this point, it’s hard to get better because we’re all really kind of at the top of our games and there are very incremental improvements, but he looks great.”