Dan Hardy Is Confident on Working His Way Back Up and Taking the Title From Georges St. Pierre

by Nick Thomas on Jul 28, 2010 2:21 PM EDT in MMA News

"GSP is a great athlete but what he doesn't have is that motivation, that drive that I've got. ... I won't give up. I will go until there is nothing left. I know that I can get there. I know that I can put the work in and get to the stage where I can beat him and take the title. And I'm confident of that."

HT: fightmagazine.com
UFC 120 coverage [vs. Carlos Condit]

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Dan Hardy needs to stop thinking about GSP for now...

… It’ll be a long time before Dana sanctions that matchup again. By that time, who knows where GSP will be in his career.

Not taking anything away from him, but Hardy needs to work on his takedown defense and ground game. That should be what his interview is about at this point.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Jul 28, 2010 2:28 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

word on that

a life: it's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come -Lester Freamon

by eastcoastatlas on Jul 28, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

If he wants another shot at the title he will need to beat Alves, Fitch or Kocheck. None of those match ups look all that winnable. Hardy has some growing to do. He need to round out his game.

by truck on Jul 28, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Something I've noticed about all the contenders that GSP has beaten

is that they all say something similar along the lines of, “I’ve been there. I know what he’s capable of. I know why he’s champion. I now know what I need to do do to beat him and I can do it.”

by jammushi on Jul 28, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah everyone wants a rematch, and thinks they could do better. Until Hardy, Fitch or Alves just start destroying everyone they fight, it’s pretty hard to be convinced. I like Fitch, but Hardy and Alves are younger, and I think one of them is more likely to someday get the job done.

by Kwisatz Haderach on Jul 28, 2010 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Umm. Ok Dan.

GSP doesn’t have the motivation to stay on top. Sure.

by Charger567 on Jul 28, 2010 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

That part strikes me as kinda dumb

by truck on Jul 28, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

completely dumb!

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Jul 28, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

110%?

by truck on Jul 28, 2010 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

... multiplied by "infinity"!

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Jul 28, 2010 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey, you gotta believe in yourself, right? i like Hardy, but it’s kinda ridiculous to question GSP’s drive and motivation.

a life: it's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come -Lester Freamon

by eastcoastatlas on Jul 28, 2010 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

Considering we've all seen George's "drive"...

..as he drove in for double-leg takedowns over. And over. And over.

I love Hardy, he’s one of my favourite fighters, but he could train nothing else for eight years and not beat GSP’s wrestling.

Koscheck eats it.

by Ozzz on Jul 28, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Favourite? eh?

WE see the biased. ;-)

(Good comment! The 2x leg takedowns seemed so easy that the fight kinda got boring to watch. GSP made that match look very simple and even had a few legit sub attempts in there.)

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Jul 28, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

GSP’s number one defining factor is his ability to self-motivate. Jeez.

by argyle on Jul 28, 2010 2:31 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs

He had enough “drive” to put your ass on the canvas 9 times

by TLow on Jul 28, 2010 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

I still say

Hardy Vs. Kim

I liked it when it was announced last year, and I still like it.

http://fightdrinker.blogspot.com

by some schmuck in texas on Jul 28, 2010 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

they hardly ever match up foreign fighters against each other, though do they?

except the occassional all brazil championship bout, I mean.

http://fightdrinker.blogspot.com

by some schmuck in texas on Jul 28, 2010 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

It does seem like they shy away from doing that, preferring the America against the world script. But, this fight could still happen once Condit beats Hardy:)

by Kwisatz Haderach on Jul 28, 2010 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Dan Hardy Har Har

The only credible interview Dan could give on winning the title would go something like this:
“GSP has to retire some day. I hope to still be competing when it happens.”

by pancakehead on Jul 28, 2010 2:45 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Oh please

Give me a break Hardy. You should not even be allowed to speak GSP’s name any more.

by pwdminotauro on Jul 28, 2010 3:02 PM EDT reply actions

Sarah Kaufman has a higher likelihood of fighting GSP for a title...

…than Hardy has of getting another shot.

Koscheck eats it.

by Ozzz on Jul 28, 2010 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

Could Hardy beat anyone in the top 5 or 10?

Swick? Please.

Consider:

Hardy vs Fitch?
vs Alves?
vs. Kampmann?
vs. Kos?
vs. Shields?
vs: Thiago?

Would Hardy win any of these fights? I highly doubt it.

by pancakehead on Jul 28, 2010 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

YES

by Lunchbox15 on Jul 28, 2010 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd say GSP, Fitch, Shields, Alves and Kos smash him 90% of the time

Ho probably splits and winds those other match ups about 30 -40% of the time.

by truck on Jul 28, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting question...

… I would rule out Shields, Kos, and Fitch. But, I wouldn’t think it was impossible to see him beat any of the other fighters on that list.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Jul 28, 2010 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Would hardy's be able to out strike Alves?

He claims to be the division best striker. I really hoped we could see him fight Alves or Daley for that reason.

by truck on Jul 28, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Me too, I'd like to see that fight.

Right now, Hardy’s just a big question mark. The convincing win over Swick proved little. The narrow wins over Gono and Davis proved even less. And his loss to GSP proved only that he has heart, but isn’t close to being able to offer the champ anything else.

Let’s see Hardy in with the big dogs, not (no offense) Condit, who’s struggled in all of his UFC fights thus far, both his wins and his loss.

by pancakehead on Jul 28, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Alves has always struck me as "unmotivated" at times

He’s had issues with diuretics and making weight for whatever reason and just seems to need to be motivated in order to bring out his best.

Not taking anything from Alves (one of my favorite leg strikers), but I just see that there could be a possibility that an aggressive and cocky Hardy catch him off-guard.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Jul 28, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

to be fair alves probably does one of the biggest cuts out of the welterweights

by phantasma475 on Jul 28, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d pick Alves, but I think that’s a close fight that I’d love to see. I’m not convinced Hardy will beat Condit though either. Carlos can strike with anyone, he’s tough as hell, and very dangerous on the ground unless he’s fighting one of the top shelf wrestlers, Kos, Fitch, Shields or GSP.

by Kwisatz Haderach on Jul 28, 2010 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Condit refuses to protect his head from punishment… :S

by truck on Jul 29, 2010 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

This is definitely true. He reminds me of Miguel Torres a bit. All offense, all the time. I still think he’s going to win this.

by Kwisatz Haderach on Jul 29, 2010 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

What's with all the Fitch love?

That guy barely survived against Mike Pierce. I think Hardy would have a legitimate shot against anyone on this list. Obviously, the stronger wrestlers would give him pause. WW division is stacked.

As for his comments, whatever. Let’s see how he does against Condit – if he wins, he’ll get someone off this list (possibly the Alves/Fitch loser) and then we won’t have to argue on the Internet about who would win.

by Clifford J on Jul 28, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW

I am not knocking Fitch – he is like 10-1 in the UFC – but I don’t see him as unbeatable.

by Clifford J on Jul 28, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think I'm suggesting that.

I just think Fitch is a better all-around fighter than most of the people on that list.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Jul 28, 2010 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

“All-around” makes it sound like he is multi-dimensional.

by truck on Jul 28, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Not at all.

Just saying he is a better fighter when comparing strength-to-strength than Hardy (i.e.—Hardy’s striking to Fitch’s)

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 3, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Fitch

Even when he doesn’t look sharp he still grinds people 2 out of 3 times. That is all one needs.

by truck on Jul 28, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Fitch love well deserved

Mike Pierce almost pulled the unexpected, but in the end…

… Fitch still prevailed, did he not?

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Jul 28, 2010 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I like Hardy

What is he suppose to say:
“I will never win the title so what’s the point of competing” ?

I think it’s a great thing that he has that much confidence and belief in himself. MMA is funny in that you can make people forget a lot of things with one great performance.
With that said I am rooting for Condit in their match-up.

by Lunchbox15 on Jul 28, 2010 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

No. But, he isn't supposed to say GSP has "no drive" either.

I would have appreciated him saying how he is going to improve so that one day he can have the opportunity to fight the champion again.

Not downplay a legend like GSP.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Jul 28, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

He's said worse

by Lunchbox15 on Jul 28, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps...

… But, that doesn’t soften the words he said today.

It still was idiotic and way off base.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 3, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Umm, if GSP has any strength, it’s drive and determination. He’s probably the most motivated high-level fighter in the sport.

MMABookworm.com

by MMABookworm on Jul 28, 2010 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

Dan Hardy's confident?

You’re shitting me.

When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail." - Jack Burton

by donkeypunch on Jul 28, 2010 3:32 PM EDT reply actions

how dare he

"I am going to burn your fucking house down, but you will blow me first"

by Barack Lesnar on Jul 28, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I wanted to say that GSP's motivation is incredible and world-class but im too slow.

by AHutch on Jul 28, 2010 3:38 PM EDT reply actions

I just think it’s great he drives an old school muscle car and not some big high class SUV or European Supercar like all the other highly paid athletes. Assuming that car is his of course.

by Burkey22 on Jul 28, 2010 5:05 PM EDT reply actions