Hardy: It's fun being in the spotlight
IT is 10am now, and about to pack my gear to go to the gym... the same gym I was at less than 12 hours ago, writes Dan Hardy. It goes without saying that I am training hard for my UFC welterweight title shot against champion George St-Pierre in New Jersey on March 27.
I'm also working hard on the PR side of things. The UFC are filming a three-part "Primetime" series to build up the fight, where GSP and I have a crew following us around during the last month of training.
-
It's very strange to have a camera crew with you every day. They've filmed me getting up and making myself breakfast, filmed me watching TV, filmed every single training session and filmed plenty of banter between me and the guys at the Rough House.
Me and the boys are always giving each other stick and I am sure it will make for good TV.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
I can't wait to see the shows. We're having a great time doing them, and when you enjoy training that's a bonus.
The other day they filmed me racing go-karts. It was set up for BBC Midlands but the Primetime crew came as well, so we had a camera crew filming a camera crew filming me. Like I said, weird.
I am a big underdog against GSP and every interview, every day, in emails from fans, I'm getting asked: 'How do you expect to beat GSP?' and 'Do you think you deserve a title shot?'
I am getting those questions all the time, like GSP is some kind of god and shouldn't even have to defend his title.
GSP has already beaten most of the top contenders. They've had their chance, while I haven't.
I've beaten everyone the UFC has put in front of me; I've never turned down a fight and I am not about to now.
I would have been happy having a couple more fights before getting my shot, but I was offered a spot as a late replacement against Mike Swick in a final eliminator in November, accepted, and beat him up.
It's funny Swick is now moaning that I didn't deserve this shot. Swick should have kept his mind off me and on his last opponent, Paulo Thiago, and maybe he wouldn't have been beaten again.
Nate Marquardt is another guy who has been vocal that I am getting some sort of preferential treatment from the UFC.
He's a middleweight, so I can't see how this concerns him. But all I can say is if I don't curl up into a ball and get blasted in one round, I'll do better than he did in his title shot against Anderson Silva.
I've won four UFC bouts to get here, not-so-great Nate had three, none of which were against world-beaters.
I am very amused Josh Koscheck is still bitching his lungs out that he deserves a title shot, not me.
British fans will know Koscheck as the Fraggle-haired guy who got sparked out in one round in London a year ago, only to take his loss out on an innocent chair backstage, scoring a split decision points win over the unsuspecting piece of furniture.
If you've forgotten that fight (and if you blinked, you'd have missed it) you'll see something very similar in May when Paul Daley knocks him out.
Koscheck says I have beaten nobodies but my latest win was over his supposed friend and team-mate in Swick.
How loyal. That's why Jon Fitch isn't improving, why Koscheck has so many one-sided losses on his record and why Swick will never fight for a title.
They aren't really a team, they don't have each others' best interests at heart and clearly there's a lack of respect in that gym.
The Rough House IS a team. We are 14-1 in our last 15 bouts and the one loss was when Ross Pearson and Andre Winner fought each other. I am glad I have their backing against GSP.
UFC 111: GSP v Hardy will be LIVE on ESPN March 27.
Comments
by Matt, Rhode Island
Thursday, March 11 2010, 12:43PM
“Why does Hardy have no chance, as stated above? I think his boxing has been very crisp and has lead in his hands. If he catches GSP with a solid hook GSP will keep backing up where he is weakest. GSP wins when he pushes forward. Also what does any one know of Hardy'sground game. very little. against Davis he did fine as well against swick. Hardy in late 1st round or GSP by decision for controling Hardy while on his back.”
by Paul, Australia
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 12:05AM
“I'm Sorry...but there is very little if any chance that Dan Hardy can beat GSP. No matter what he thinks he is good at - GSP is better. He's got his chance to beat the champ, which is great - and he is a top contender so there is no arguement that he deserves it, but like all else before him...he will fall to the superior strength, skill and will of GSP. In Dan's blog, he asks "is GSP some sort of GOD"...the answer is yes - to you he is an MMA GOD!”
by Phil, Clifton
Thursday, March 04 2010, 8:19AM
“Do it for your grandad Dan, Everyone knows there are no easy matches but you can do this for your grandads memory.”
by Scott Hunter, Adelaide
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 9:12PM
“Gsp is a good striker remember he is a karateka before he used his new found wrestling skills to dominate in the ufc, but every striker has a chance at the knock down even of the best, but i do not see Dan Hardy being able to stop gsp takign him to the ground and owning him, as for the coment by rossko from Brisbane that Bisping is a pretender the fight he had with Wanderlei silva in Sydney was very close apart from Wandi getting one attempted submission and one good punch he very rarely connected with Bisping at all with anything, Bisping hit him constantly witrh straight punches jabs etc that was a legend descision and I can't wait to see Ross Pearson fight again, oh and i'm not English either.”
by MMAMAD, Newcastle
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 1:38PM
“Gents I have to agree with Jim (Ipswich) and although I don't like going against home grown talent I have to say GSP will literally wipe the floor with Dan Hardy. Put it this way, there is not one single aspect in Hardy's MMA locker bag, including his stand-up that he is better at than GSP, that includes both trained and natural aspects of his game. Also for those who say GSP has a glass jaw I¿m confused, as not once in his professional career has he been stopped with a punch to the jaw? If you mean Serra, he hit him just behind the ear which for those of you who have fought before will know no matter how good you can take a punch there is always a spot that gets your legs turning to jelly.
Dan the best of luck mate and I sincerely do mean that¿¿¿¿you¿ll need it!”
by Drew Nikel, Houston TX USA
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 7:05AM
“WHATS UP DAN HARDY! HEY MAN, I've seen you fight before - U got real skills! EXCELENT HANDS and FOOTWORK! I bet you're gonna put a whoopin on GSP... Right when he goes for the takedown, You're gonna catch him with a solid low uppercut and knock his ass out! THATS A BET! YOU GOTTA GO GET THAT BELT MAN! YOU EARNED IT! GO GET IT!”
by Rossko, Brisbane, Australia
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 11:59PM
“You guys are kidding yourselves. Dan Hardy won't come close to GSP. Bisping is a pretender too. Don't you fools get it? These guys are getting big fights because the UFC is trying to increase it's popularity in the UK, which is great, but the UK fans seem to be a bit misguided in thinking that the UK are all of a sudden a dominant presence in the UFC.
Go GSP! Wipe the floor with this big mouth poser.”
by jim hazell, ipswich
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 7:07PM
“I am an avid MMA follower and did compete albeit at amateur level two decades ago.I follow it closely and as I see it Hardy has two hopes.No hope and Bob hope.You'll get beaten son and it will probably be humiliating.You're not in his league.”
by UFC PRIDE FAN, Notts
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 5:31PM
“Good luck lad”
by UFC fan, Nottm
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 10:29AM
“Only thing to do then is wait and see.No excuses for either fighter who loses!”