Dan Hardy vs. Chris Lytle Set For UFC on Versus 5 Main Card
by Tim Burke on May 11, 2011 11:21 AM EDT
in UFC News
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Back in late March, not long after a lopsided loss to Anthony Johnson, Dan Hardy was looking for an opponent that would offer up an exciting fight. He called out one Chris Lytle, who immediately accepted the challenge. Just over a month later, the UFC got on board and decided to book it for the main card at UFC on Versus 5. The UFC confirmed the fight on Twitter via Hardy's hometown newspaper, This Is Nottingham:
Nottingham's Dan Hardy will top the bill at a big UFC show in America. Hardy, nicknamed 'the Outlaw', will fight American Chris Lytle at 'UFC Live' in Milwaukee on August 14, and will train in Las Vegas in the build-up to it.
He said: "It is exactly the fight I wanted. Chris tries to finish you throughout the fight, and I'm ready for a blaze of glory.
"This is the kind of fight you can define your career around. You can guarantee Chris Lytle will bring it, that he will have an exciting fight.
Hardy has dropped three in a row in the octagon (to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 111, Carlos Condit at UFC 120, and the above-mentioned Johnson at UFC Fight Night 24), while Lytle is looking to rebound from an entertaining but surprising loss to late replacement Brian Ebersole at UFC 127. Before that, he had strung four wins in a row together and was pushing into the upper echelon at 170. This fight could be the UFC swan song for Hardy, and it could define Lytle's place in the promotion going forward. This card is quickly becoming very good.
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Gush though this may be do or die for both
They made a video game about Yakuzas. It’s called Yakuza. And it’s about Yakuza
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I can't see them cutting Lytle under any circumstances
Hardy is in a more precarious position, but he’s also British and a great self-promoter, which will buy him a longer leash than just about anyone. If they go out there and put on a real slobberknocker, I could see Hardy getting one more chance.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on May 11, 2011 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Yea a cut for either of them seems unrealistic at this point.
Lyoto Machida will literally kick your teeth out.
by tito (eight and oh) on May 11, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions
If Lytle completely smashes Hardy
I think Hardy will probably get cut, despite being good business for the UFC, just because they will eventually run out of UFC WWs who he can possibly beat. But if they put on a good show and Hardy is competitive, I think he stays on win or lose.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on May 11, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Lytle will win.
The real question is how well will Hardy perform? If he gets blasted in the 1st round . . . I don’t know about his future in the organization.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on May 11, 2011 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
You really think they would not cut Hardy after four straight losses? That seems very unrealistic to me. Have they ever kept anyone with four straight? I know he’s fairly popular and everything, but there is no way I see him still having a job with the UFC if he loses to Lytle, he’s definitely getting cut even if he looks good.
by Horselover Fat on May 11, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe I'm nuts
but I could totally see them keeping him if he’s competitive and they put on a good show.
I’m not a UFC business wiz, but it seems like they put a lot of weight on developing the UK market, and behind Bisping, Hardy is undoubtedly the most popular UK fighter on the roster. Add to that the fact that he has a crowd-pleasing style and a great knack for selling fights, and I think they really would like to keep him on the payroll if they can manage it.
Maybe it takes a FOTY candidate, but I could see him clinging on after 4 losses more than just about any other guy.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on May 11, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey, I’m not a wiz either. And I see where you’re coming from. But to paraphrase Matt Bishop, I’m a realist. To be frank he’s lucky to still be around after three straight losses. Four, that just won’t do, even the Brits will realize that. And like mentioned here below for comparison, Jardine was cut after four losses, the last being a FOTN decision loss where he got a very questionable point deduction. And they really wanted to keep him, Dana said that he was sad to have to cut Jardine, but they simply couldn’t do it when he had four losses in a row.
So, I just don’t see how they could do this for Hardy, or anyone at all for that matter, in this day and age. I don’t think anyone in modern time has not been cut after four losses, I may be wrong but I can’t come up with anyone, and in fact the vast majority are gone after just two or three. Getting up to four, that’s reserved for just a lucky few. Five, not going to happen, IMO.
by Horselover Fat on May 11, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah I think 4 is the limit. I thought they kept Jardine, but nah he was cut after Hammil beat him. The only person to kinda stay is Tito, he has 4 straight losses and a draw, but he is under a very special circumstance.
Fun fact: Hammil handed both Tito Ortiz and Jardine their 4th losses in a row in the UFC.
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on May 11, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep, exactly. They’re not going to budge on that one for Dan Hardy, and to be honest it would be pretty silly if they did. I’m not a huge fan of guys getting cut after 1-2 losses if they looked good, but when it’s getting up to 3-4, I think there’s good enough reason to get rid of them for the time being.
by Horselover Fat on May 11, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah I agree. The ONLY people I could POSSIBLY see getting 4 losses and sticking around are former and phenomenal champs and/or huge names/HoF’s. Like GSP, Anderson, Penn, Randy, Hughes, Shogun, Franklin etc., and that’s a huge maybe…
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on May 11, 2011 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions
And they cut him after a FOTN
"If I had a dollar for every brain you don't have, I'd have one dollar." - Squidward Tentacles
by SSreporters on May 11, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
In a fight that he should have won, if not for a garbage point deduction.
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
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by James Brady on May 11, 2011 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
That was a Majority Decision for Hamill
He would have won a Split Decision without the point deduction.
Jardine deserved to have a draw on that night at worst.
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter
And I don’t even like the guy.
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter
after 4 losses? a loss doesn’t seem that unreasonable.
"Osama is dead.... Amazing what Americans can do when the PlayStation network is down..."
by Hendo_One-Shot on May 11, 2011 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions
*cut
"Osama is dead.... Amazing what Americans can do when the PlayStation network is down..."
by Hendo_One-Shot on May 11, 2011 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions
It's do or die for Lytle in terms of relevance
He had a nice buzz going and that fight against Condit was clearly designed to push the winner into title contention but losing to Ebersole has squashed that idea. He needs to win this fight to have any shot at making a run at the title.
He can run for the title
Doesn’t mean he ever had a chance at getting it. Well, about as much of a chance as Serra, oh wait…. I’m gonna stop now
Let the fighters fight, let the referees ref, but dear God, don't let the judges judge.
Lytle has not had a single quality win in forever
He ain’t making a title run.
"If I had a dollar for every brain you don't have, I'd have one dollar." - Squidward Tentacles
by SSreporters on May 11, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
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by Neil Manich on May 11, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
If Serra is Lytle’s best win in forever, then he never deserved to get in there with Condit in the first place. His fight with Ebersole proved that. Serra just hasn’t been good since GSP stole his will to fight a few years ago…
He fought with a knee injury against Ebersole
MMA fans love to believe stuff like that doesn’t matter, but it does.
When I'm on the mic it goes down, CINTRON
-Joell Ortiz
by The Lethal Haze on May 12, 2011 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Great photo
Looks like he is yawning – is that after he was knocked out, or fought GSP? :)
This sounds like a good fight, but another example of fighters I want to see win and continue on in the UFC – I don’t want either to lose, or to be cut.
"Very broken in his right hand is Martin Kampmann"
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i agree
Legendary lay-up Jordan with the right-left switch.
Hang time, Hand glide, Stir fried, Chinky-eyed, Shanghai
by AndersonSativa on May 11, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
As much as I get a kick out of Hardy,
I would laugh wholeheartedly if Lytle decides to take him down immediately and either out-wrestle him for three rounds, or sub him.
That would be weird.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on May 11, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah
that would be kind of funny…especially if leading up to the fight Lytle talks about standing up and banging and all that then IMMEDIATELY takes him down and submits him.
by phantom5691 on May 11, 2011 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
haha
man that’d be so fucked up for Hardy, I can most definitely see the frustration on his face if that was to actually happen!
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on May 11, 2011 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
i think lytles gonna stand with him
but it wouldnt shock me at all if he just starts spamming takedowns
"I have smoked weed with alot of UFC champions" - Joe Rogan
"Você ta fudido. Se vai levar muita porrada, ta ligado?" - Anderson Silva
I hope Lytle immediately takes him down.
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He won't
"If I had a dollar for every brain you don't have, I'd have one dollar." - Squidward Tentacles
by SSreporters on May 11, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I actually think Lytle stops Hardy
"If I had a dollar for every brain you don't have, I'd have one dollar." - Squidward Tentacles
I could easily see that
he’s probably better than Hardy everywhere.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on May 11, 2011 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe I'm a little hyperbolic
But Hardy may just be the worst non-heavyweight fighter to fight for a title in the Zuffa-era UFC.
"If I had a dollar for every brain you don't have, I'd have one dollar." - Squidward Tentacles
by SSreporters on May 11, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
That's kind of a bummer
but you might be right. I still like Dan Hardy, but the holes in his game are glaring, and he’s just not good enough at the thing he does best. That said, I’m still looking forward to this fight.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on May 11, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Lytle is going to hype the fight up saying hes ready to go to war and hes going to stand with Hardy and put on a good show for the fans.
Then hes going to take him down for the free win.
by Tats16 on May 11, 2011 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs
I’m going the opposite direction – I think Hardy’s going to try and show off the evolution of his game by taking Lytle down. And then Hardy gets subbed by some crazy kneebar after about 39 seconds.
Still a Beer Monster.
http://www.instrength.com
I hope Lytle takes him down and subs him right away. This had better not be the main event, as was reported on the UG
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by mburtoni on May 11, 2011 11:52 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I'd be shocked if it weren't
Lytle and Hardy are high-profile guys, and Hardy will do a lot of talking in the run up. For a free card I don’t see what they’re putting above this.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on May 11, 2011 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I definitely think Miller/Bendo is the main event.
Still a Beer Monster.
http://www.instrength.com
I totally spaced that Bendo Miller was on the card
gotta be co-mains right?
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on May 11, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
It'd be insulting to have someone who has not won a round in 1.5 years
Be the main event of a card with a fight of higher relevancy.
"If I had a dollar for every brain you don't have, I'd have one dollar." - Squidward Tentacles
by SSreporters on May 11, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I think
even if this fight stays standing it will be fairly competitive. I don’t think that Lytle needs to take down Hardy to win. However, as everyone has previously mentioned, it would be pretty smart to do so.
Damn I like Hardy a lot, but he’s gonna be cut if he loses. For all the talk and acclaim that he gets for his standup, he really needs to put on a very dominant striking performance against Lytle and get the win.
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on May 11, 2011 12:30 PM EDT reply actions
Hope Lytle wins and runs Hardy right out of the UFC.
Four consecutive wins on the way in, four straight Ls on the way out.
by The Ghost of Spike Owen on May 11, 2011 12:59 PM EDT reply actions
I dunno
I’m not sure more seasoning would have given Hardy any more staying power in the UFC. His limitations are what they are, and he doesn’t seem willing or capable to properly address them. Beyond that, his stand-up, which is supposed to be his best weapon, isn’t nearly good enough to let him coast as a one-dimensional fighter.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on May 11, 2011 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I don't know about that either
he has a great wealth of experience, 32 pro fights is very solid.
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on May 11, 2011 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
He may have a lot of fights under his belt and experience is certainly an important factor, but if I look at just his UFC fights, he was undoubtedly pushed way to fast into a fight with one of the p4p greatest fighters in MMA. After getting manhandled by GSP, he simply seems to have caved a bit. Lets take a look at his UFC fights.
Beat Gono by split decision. Not a very compelling win.
KO’d Rory Markham, a fighter who is as much a journeymen in the UFC as Hardy is. A solid win over a lower tier UFC fighter.
Beat Davis by split decision in another fight that wasn’t a sign of greatness.
Decisioned Mike Swick, a fighter who I never bought the UFC hype about. It was a solid win, but again, nothing that made me perk up and take notice.
Then he gets bum rushed into fighting GS fucking P. Terrible long-term decision. Hardy was handily outclassed in every single aspect of that fight, and since that fight, Hardy has been outstruck by a rising prospect, and thoroughly manhandled by another rising prospect. I think the decision to put him in against GSP affected him for the worse.
I can most definitely agree with that.
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on May 12, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I am not a fan of Dan Hardy, so I will be rooting against him. Granted, Hardy has only been fighting tough guys as of late and even Paulo Thiago, who has only been fighting top guys in his UFC tenure, finally got a lower-tier Welterweight. I am actually concerned about Lytle’s chin. He’s been taking a lot of damage throughout his MMA career, and I don’t know if his chin is holding up or not seeing that he got dropped but not finished by Ebersole.
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This Saddens me
I really wanted Hardy to get a Gimme fight, Lytle is not that,and far from it. Two of my favorite Welter’s and one of em’s on the verge of release. It sucks but I got to go with Lytle via 2nd sub.
by Mantis xX on May 11, 2011 1:14 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Hardy asked for it.
Legendary lay-up Jordan with the right-left switch.
Hang time, Hand glide, Stir fried, Chinky-eyed, Shanghai
by AndersonSativa on May 11, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Has anyone watched Lytle fight?
He doesn’t shoot for takedowns, he likes to stand and bang. Could he submit Hardy? I am sure he could, I do not think Hardy is unbreakable as some people would like you to believe, but that is not the game that Lytle plays
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