Former Training Partners Pat Barry and Antoni Hardonk Collide at UFC 104

It's a rare kickboxer vs kickboxer match at UFC 104 when former K-1 fighters Antoni Hardonk and Pat Barry face off. Barry talks to Heavy.com about his side of the story:

After compiling 29 amateur bouts in 7 months and traveling the country signing his name on every kickboxing tournament list, Barry received the invite to train in Holland in the VAS Gym (the most legendary gym in kickboxing) under K-1 champion, Ernesto Hoost. After training with ‘Mr. Perfect’ and his next opponent, Antoni Hardonk for 5 years and compiling a world-class kickboxing record of 18-6-1, Barry eventually left Holland due to a rift with what he thought was his mentor. Feeling like he was a just a training partner for the other fighters that Barry feels, Hoost thought were better fighters, this fight means more than another ‘W’ for Barry it’s redemption.

"This fight means more to me than just going and getting a win because this is almost like a, oh you thought I couldn’t make it and now look at what I’m doing. You didn’t have the confidence in me and now look at what is happening."

For his part Antoni Hardonk denies there is any kind of grudge angle to the match, per MMA Weekly:

"I know his style, I know his strengths, his weaknesses. I also know his personality. He's quite a funny guy. He's got a lot of humor. But I kind of know what to expect. But now, it's MMA. It's a total different game.

"I think I have a more well-rounded style. I'm more developed fighting on the ground, and my wrestling, I think, is a little bit better. But I think he has some advantages because of his build. He's a very short, heavy-built guy, so he's got a low center of gravity; it's hard to take him down. And that's basically where he focuses... keep it in the stand-up fight and try to surprise people there and try to force his style over his opponents."

Hardonk dodged the question when told by the interviewer, "Pat Barry told me that you're going to try to shoot in and take him down." Hardonk also says, "I don't remember (Barry's) leg kicks being that powerful. Everyone has good leg kicks in Holland."

My take on the fight is that Hardonk's reach will be a big factor. He's 6'4" and Barryis 5'11". I agree with Barry that Hardonk might choose to take him down as he's likely got the edge in grappling over Barry, who lost quickly to Pat Hague once the fight went to the ground. Of course, Hardonk didn't look that good from his back in his UFC 97 loss to Cheick Kongo.

This is one fight where I'll actually be rooting for Hardonk not to make the smart play and try to take the fight to the ground because if it stays standing we might be in for some fireworks.

This fight also has a definite air of "loser" leave down about it as well. Hardonk (4-3 in the UFC) has probably won enough UFC fights to survive a loss, but losing this one will drop Barry to 1-2 in the UFC -- not a good place to be if you want to keep fighting in the Octagon.

It seems patently obvious to me that Barry should cut down to 205lbs and fight at light heavyweight, but he'll probably have to wash out of the UFC heavyweight ranks before he comes to the same conclusion.