Dan Hardy: I asked for a tough first fight, and got one

Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy came into the UFC with an impressive 20-6-1 record. He’s the full package. He’s distinctive, he’s a super nice guy and above all he has a hell of a lot of talent. Just looking at his UFC debut with Akihiro Gono, it seems that one of his greatest assets, apart from his obvious kick boxing skill, is his ability to scramble back to his feet at any costs. And fast! It’s with this in mind that you can see why Dan Hardy is such a marketable fighter. And he likes that.

In an interview with Eurosport, Hardy speaks about his UFC debut and his opinion on the UFC’s ‘plan’.

"I asked for a tough first fight, and got one," said Hardy. "I think the UFC realised although I was new to them, I was capable of dealing with top-ranked fighters and so they sort of threw me in at the deep end."

"I'd like to think they had a plan for me. I think the UFC realise my potential, but at the end of the day I have to get in there and win the fights. And they are all tough fights in the UFC as all the best fighters in the world are here."

"Either way, if there is a plan to market me like Bisping or if there isn't, then that's fine with me. My job is still the same; to go out there and beat people up. I don't think that it means there will be any extra pressure on me; no more than I put on myself anyway."

Hardy also says that he strives for greatness. Being thrown in at the deep end of the UFC’s welterweight division is a tough task for anyone, but Hardy seems up to the task.

"I am just going to pick guys off, one at a time," said Hardy. "I'm not here to make up the numbers. At some point I want to be in title contention; how long that takes, I don't mind."

"My first plan was to be in the UFC by the time I was 28-years-old, and I am over a year ahead of time with that. I want to enjoy my wins, take the time to work on the technical side of my game."

"Career-wise, I think it is good to space things out, to make sure you get enough rest between fights. I have always been an active fighter, sometimes taking fights as little as two weeks apart. But now I am at the UFC, the stakes are higher and I need to slow it down and be a bit more serious.

"Ideally, I would want to be fighting three or four times a year, and I have to make sure I peak at the right time for those fights."

Dan's second fight in the UFC has alreay been decided and will be announced soon. And as soon as it is, we'll bring you the goood news.

By Rory Logan