Before interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit ever got his shot at a UFC title, the former WEC champ had to work his way through some of the welterweight division’s toughest opposition, including former UFC title challenger Dan Hardy.
After two hard-fought victories against Rory MacDonald and Jake Ellenberger, both of who have only lost to Condit in the UFC, “the Natural Born Killer” went to London, England, to take on the British fighter in front of 17,000 hometown fans at UFC 120.
Before battling Georges St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight championship, Hardy had defeated fighters like Mike Swick and Marcus Davis to extend his UFC record to 4-0. His losing but valiant effort against GSP earned him respect from the majority of MMA fans who thought he may have earned the title shot too soon.
There was no shortage of trash-talk leading up to the fight, at least on the side of “the Outlaw,” and many fans were anticipating a three-round war between Hardy and Condit.
It fell short of expectations in terms of length but not in terms of excitement. During an exchange where both fighters threw left hooks, Condit landed first and more accurately to put Hardy down and out.
Condit would eventually fight for the interim title at UFC 140 against Nick Diaz. He won a unanimous decision and set himself up for a chance to fight one of the most accomplished fighters to ever step foot inside the Octagon in GSP.
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