UFC welterweights Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy (23-8) and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (8-3) have made verbal agreements to meet at an upcoming event in March 2011.
The news comes via Ariel Helwani at MMAFighting.com, who learned of the bout from a source close to the fight. No event was named for the Hardy vs. Johnson bout with three set for the month of March including the March 3rd UFC on Versus 3 show, the March 19th UFC 128 event, and the Ultimate Fight Night 24 show unofficially scheduled for March 26th.
Hardy is coming off back-to-back losses at the hands of Carlos Condit, KO loss at UFC 120, and a unanimous decision defeat to UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre at UFC 111. “The Outlaw” had been on a seven fight win streak, including four in the UFC, to bring him into the title fight with GSP, but now looks to get back into the win column after suffering his first ever knockout loss.
Meanwhile, Johnson also enters the fight with a loss to his record after a three fight win streak was ended by former #1 contender Josh Koscheck back at UFC 106 in November of 2009. “Rumble” had been expected to face John Howard on March 21 at UFC LIVE: Vera vs. Jones event but a knee injury forced him to withdraw and has sidelined him for the rest of the year. Johnson has noted that he has a considerable amount of weight to cut to make 170 and was looking at a move to 185, but it appears “Rumble” will try his luck at welterweight against Hardy.