Feb 26, 2021
Dan Hardy has found his ideal opponent for his return to MMA. Now he’s just waiting for the UFC to make it official.
In his prime, Hardy was known as one of the most exciting fighters in the game. His penchant for engaging in stand-up wars made him an instant fan favorite, and victories over names like Marcus Davis and Mike Swick quickly earned him a shot at UFC welterweight king Georges St-Pierre. Though he was dominated on the ground throughout that fight, Hardy never tapped out despite being put in a number of compromising positions, further cementing his place in fans hearts. That loss was the first of four straight, which infamously lead to former UFC boss Lorenzo Fertitta to declare that the organization would never release Hardy thanks to his style. After rebounding with victories over Duane Ludwig and Amir Sadollah, ‘The Outlaw’ was forced to put his career on hold in 2012 after being diagnosed with a rare heart condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White synd
“If it’s going to happen, I need it to be someone worthwhile,” Hardy wrote. “I’m not doing all of this preparation to fight some bum. I need names and faces…”
“I know someone who can help,” Brown responded.
Speaking on Twitter on Friday morning, Hardy updated on this potential matchup from Brown, revealing that he’s up for the challenge, and that he’s just waiting for a call from the UFC.
I’m waiting on the call from the UFC. Ready to accept.
“I’m waiting on the call from the UFC,” Hardy wrote in response to a fan. “Ready to accept.”
It s one of the most intriguing prefight storylines in combat sports. Teammate versus teammate. Friends turned foes.
In MMA, there s a pretty common stance on teammates fighting each other: They typically refuse to do it unless a championship belt is at stake. Well, there will be a belt on the line on Saturday at UFC 258.
Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (17-1) will look to defend his title against longtime teammate Gilbert Burns (19-3) this weekend inside the UFC s Apex facility in Las Vegas. The two were teammates with Blackzilians and then Sanford MMA in South Florida from 2012 to 2020. Only after they were lined up to fight each other last spring did Usman leave to train with coach Trevor Wittman in Denver.
It s one of the most intriguing prefight storylines in combat sports. Teammate versus teammate. Friends turned foes.
In MMA, there s a pretty common stance on teammates fighting each other: They typically refuse to do it unless a championship belt is at stake. Well, there will be a belt on the line on Saturday at UFC 258.
Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (17-1) will look to defend his title against longtime teammate Gilbert Burns (19-3) this weekend inside the UFC s Apex facility in Las Vegas. The two were teammates with Blackzilians and then Sanford MMA in South Florida from 2012 to 2020. Only after they were lined up to fight each other last spring did Usman leave to train with coach Trevor Wittman in Denver.
Juan Archuleta Says Fight with Sergio Pettis Will be a Battle of Styles
Photo: Bellator MMA
Bellator Bantamweight Champ, Juan Archuleta (25-2) takes on No. 1-contender Sergio Pettis (20-5) on May 7 in his first scheduled title defense since winning the title last September.
The two 135 pound competitors were in attendance at Bellator MMA’s press event at The Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and the fight was announced with the news that Bellator MMA would be moving to SHOWTIME. Archuleta sat down with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell at Morning Kombat who hosted their show after the press conference to talk about the fight.