Tag: Dan Hardy

Ex-UFC Star believes Ian Garry’s Potential is being ‘Undermined’ by the people he chooses to surround himself with

Ian GarryDan Hardy feels sorry for Ian Garry. The fast-rising Irish contender returns to the Octagon this Saturday night (December…

Ian Garry

Dan Hardy feels sorry for Ian Garry.

The fast-rising Irish contender returns to the Octagon this Saturday night (December 16) for the biggest fight of his mixed martial arts career thus far. However, much of the noise surrounding Garry has had little to do with his high-stakes welterweight clash at UFC 296.

Instead, fighters and fans alike have chosen to focus on his personal life. Specifically, his marriage to 40-year-old television presenter Layla Anna-Lee.

Last month reigning UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland posted a video labeling Anna-Lee as a “succubus” after learning that she had written a guidebook for older women looking to date young athletes and celebrities entitled How to Be a WAG. Anna-Lee claims that the 11-page e-book was meant to be satirical, but considering that she is 14 years older than Garry, not everyone was buying that excuse, Strickland included.

Strickland’s attack on the couple’s unconventional relationship opened the floodgates, forcing Garry to privatize his social media channels amid the backlash.

Speaking about the situation during an appearance on Submission Radio, former UFC title contender Dan Hardy suggested that Ian Garry has all the potential in the world, but at some point, he let the wrong people take the wheel and steer his career down the path of unnecessary drama.

“Honestly, I feel bad for the kid. He’s a good fighter and that’s been overshadowed by all of the drama in his personal life,” Hardy said. “Any interaction I’ve had with him was always good. I saw him several times at Cage Warriors. I called a couple of his fights. He’s a very skilled and talented fighter. He had great coaches back in the day who really instilled a good skill set into him.

“But there was a point in his career where things started to go south and they went south very quickly from what I can tell from people around him that I’ve spoken to. It just seems like his life was being guided by other people, which is a real shame because, for a young man with so much potential, I feel like his potential is being undermined by the drama that’s being created around him.”

Is Ian Garry being controlled by people who are trying to steal his limelight?

Hardy doubled down on his accusations, claiming that those around Garry are seemingly more interested in stealing the limelight for themselves than helping ‘The Future’ navigate his combat sports career.

“I don’t think he’s a mean person, necessarily,” Hardy continued. “I don’t think he’s vindictive in any way. I think some of the things he says are not very well thought out. Some of the things he does are potentially put in his mind or on his shirt by other people, you could say.

“I feel sorry for him and I feel like his potential is being stifled because of this unnecessary drama around and other people trying to steal the limelight, or create a limelight for themselves. I feel like it’s a lot of weight going into this weekend’s fight against Vicente Luque.”

It remains to be seen how the drama will impact Garry inside the Octagon, if at all, but we won’t have to wait much longer to find out.

Dan Hardy calls out UFC for ‘curating’ Bo Nickal’s career ahead of wrestling star’s return to the Octagon

Bo NickalOne-time UFC title challenger Dan Hardy is excited to see highly touted prospect Bo Nickal back in action this Saturday night but is concerned that the promotion may be doing him a disservice by booking him against Tresean Gore. Nickal (4-0), is scheduled to make his sophomore appearance inside the Octagon at UFC 290 when […]

Bo Nickal

One-time UFC title challenger Dan Hardy is excited to see highly touted prospect Bo Nickal back in action this Saturday night but is concerned that the promotion may be doing him a disservice by booking him against Tresean Gore.

Nickal (4-0), is scheduled to make his sophomore appearance inside the Octagon at UFC 290 when the promotion heads back to the familiar confines of T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Headlined by a featherweight championship unification bout, the event will give fans their fourth look at Nickal after two appearances on Dana White’s Contender Series and his official debut earlier this year. Nickal submitted Jamie Pickett under the three-minute mark of the opening round at UFC 285 and the odds favor him delivering a repeat performance against his next opponent, Tresean Gore.

Bo Nickal will go into the bout as a massive -1300 favorite. And while everyone, including Dan Hardy, is excited to see how the three-time Division I national champion performs, ‘The Outlaw’ believes that the UFC is falling into the habit of curating careers for fighters who could have spent a little more time honing their craft on the regional scene before signing with the Las Vegas-based promotion.

“I kind of feel like this one’s been matched for Bo Nickal to pick up another win,” Hardy said on his Outlawed Picks Podcast. “4-0 against 4-2. I’m very excited for Bo Nickal, but it’s like, sometimes I feel like fighters join the UFC a little bit too soon, and then you can kinda tell that they’re curating their career too much if that makes sense.”

Dan Hardy Expects Bo Nickal to Get Tresean Gore to the Mat in Under a Minute

As for how things go between Bo Nickal and Tresean Gore at UFC 290, Hardy fully expects Nickal to take things to the ground within the first 60 seconds en route to his second-straight finish inside the Octagon.

“I’m kind of expecting Bo Nickal to make the most of the pressure that Tresean Gore’s probably gonna put him under,” Hardy stated. Ultimately, I just think this fight’s gonna be on the floor within a minute, and Bo Nickal’s probably gonna be able to beat him up from top position to soften him up and then attack some kind of neck (submission); anaconda, arm triangle, rear-naked choke, etc., etc.” (h/t MMA News).

Tresean Gore is certainly no slouch, holding a solid 4-2 overall record, but he has failed to make much of a statement during his relatively short UFC tenure. ‘Mr. Vicious’ is 1-2 inside the Octagon, dropping back-to-back bouts against Cody Brundage and Bryan Battle before getting his hand raised against Josh Fremd in October.

Video – Dan Hardy left in despair following Brendan Loughnane’s shocking KO loss at PFL 4

dan hardyDan Hardy was in shock after Brendan Loughnane was finished by huge underdog Jesus Pinedo last night at PFL 4. Last night, the PFL held an event in Atlanta Georgia, headlined by homegrown talent and the winner of last years featherweight tournament, Loughnane. The Manchester born fighter enjoyed an incredible 2022, capping it off with […]

dan hardy

Dan Hardy was in shock after Brendan Loughnane was finished by huge underdog Jesus Pinedo last night at PFL 4.

Last night, the PFL held an event in Atlanta Georgia, headlined by homegrown talent and the winner of last years featherweight tournament, Loughnane. The Manchester born fighter enjoyed an incredible 2022, capping it off with an impressive win over Bubba Jenkins in the final of the tournament, and decided to re-enter the tournament this year.

Loughnane was tipped to win heading into the tournament as well as being a -500 favrioute last night over Pinedo. Unfortunately for Loughnane, Pinedo would catch him with a knee that would be the beginning of the end, finishing it up with ground and pound before the referee called a halt to the contest. The 33-year-old is now out of the tournament while Pinedo advances to the next step.

Dan Hardy reacts to Brendan Loughnane knockout loss at PFL 4

On commentary last night was Dan Hardy, a former UFC title challenger turned analyst and commentor, who has flourished in his duties since his competitive retirement. Hardy perfectly encapsulated of the shock of the finish last night.

Hardy, a fellow Brit, had spoken highly of Loughnane before and praised him in an intervierw with Fighters Only Magazine when discussing his role within PFL

“The fact that we’ve already got Brendan Loughnane, who’s already won the featherweight world championship, he’s already walked that path, so European fighters can already see that it’s possible,” Hardy said.

“Through all the adversity that he went through, as well, from not getting signed to the UFC when he should have been, and the criticism of his decision-making, he’s shown himself to be a world-class athlete right now, and he’s got the money and the belt to prove it. So he’s already done that for the European fighters.

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Video – Dan Hardy left in despair following Brendan Loughnane’s shocking KO loss at PFL 4

dan hardyDan Hardy was in shock after Brendan Loughnane was finished by huge underdog Jesus Pinedo last night at PFL 4. Last night, the PFL held an event in Atlanta Georgia, headlined by homegrown talent and the winner of last years featherweight tournament, Loughnane. The Manchester born fighter enjoyed an incredible 2022, capping it off with […]

dan hardy

Dan Hardy was in shock after Brendan Loughnane was finished by huge underdog Jesus Pinedo last night at PFL 4.

Last night, the PFL held an event in Atlanta Georgia, headlined by homegrown talent and the winner of last years featherweight tournament, Loughnane. The Manchester born fighter enjoyed an incredible 2022, capping it off with an impressive win over Bubba Jenkins in the final of the tournament, and decided to re-enter the tournament this year.

Loughnane was tipped to win heading into the tournament as well as being a -500 favrioute last night over Pinedo. Unfortunately for Loughnane, Pinedo would catch him with a knee that would be the beginning of the end, finishing it up with ground and pound before the referee called a halt to the contest. The 33-year-old is now out of the tournament while Pinedo advances to the next step.

Dan Hardy reacts to Brendan Loughnane knockout loss at PFL 4

On commentary last night was Dan Hardy, a former UFC title challenger turned analyst and commentor, who has flourished in his duties since his competitive retirement. Hardy perfectly encapsulated of the shock of the finish last night.

Hardy, a fellow Brit, had spoken highly of Loughnane before and praised him in an intervierw with Fighters Only Magazine when discussing his role within PFL

“The fact that we’ve already got Brendan Loughnane, who’s already won the featherweight world championship, he’s already walked that path, so European fighters can already see that it’s possible,” Hardy said.

“Through all the adversity that he went through, as well, from not getting signed to the UFC when he should have been, and the criticism of his decision-making, he’s shown himself to be a world-class athlete right now, and he’s got the money and the belt to prove it. So he’s already done that for the European fighters.

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UFC alum Francis Ngannou pegged to make PFL move soon following Octagon departure: ‘I know he’s coming’

Francis Ngannou backed to move to PFL I know he's coming UFCFormer undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has been backed to make a move to the PFL (Professional Fighters League) in the near future following his start-of-year Octagon departure, by former UFC welterweight title challenger, Dan Hardy. Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, saw his contractual obligations with the […]

Francis Ngannou backed to move to PFL I know he's coming UFC

Former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has been backed to make a move to the PFL (Professional Fighters League) in the near future following his start-of-year Octagon departure, by former UFC welterweight title challenger, Dan Hardy.

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, saw his contractual obligations with the promotion come to an end back in December of last year. 

Stripped of his status as undisputed champion and removed from the official organizational rankings, Batié native, Ngannou also saw his period of exclusive negotiating with the UFC waived by the promotion, who showed the Cameroon native the proverbial door.

Most recently competing in professional mixed martial arts back in January of last year atop a UFC 270 card in Anaheim, California, Francis Ngannou defeated Ciryl Gane in a unanimous decision title unification success.

Weighing up a potential professional boxing transition against former WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay WIlder of note, Ngannou confirmed recently that both the PFL and the Chatri Sityodtong-led ONE Championship were leading the face for his signature.

Dan Hardy expects the PFL to successfully push for Francis Ngannou’s signature

And according to Hardy, who himself recently joined PFL as their European head of fighter operations, expects Ngannou to follow in his path and join the organization’s heavyweight ranks next.

“We’ll [the PFL] have Francis Ngannou in no time coming over and fighting for it,” Dan Hardy told Middleeasy during a recent interview. “I just feel it in my bones. I know he’s coming. I just know he’s coming. I can just feel it. It makes sense. His demands for the UFC is exactly what the PFL are offering.”

“So, everything that he was asking for from the UFC, it’s already on the table over here as long as the money’s on the table alongside to match the heavyweight king’s purse, then I think you’ll be happy and I think we can certainly do that for him,” Dan Hardy continued. (Transcribed by BJPENN.com) 

Winning the undisputed UFC heavyweight crown back in March 2021 in a championship rematch against Stipe Miocic, Ngannou stopped the Ohio veteran with a thunderous second round KO at the UFC Apex facility. 

Dan Hardy compares current UFC state to ‘Vladimir Putin’s Russia’: ‘They don’t feel like they have a choice’

Dan Hardy UFC state is run like Vladimir Putin Russia Dana WhiteFormer UFC welterweight, Dan Hardy did not hold back when discussing Dana White and his latest venture, Power Slap. Following his retirement in 2013, Hardy made the transition to analyst and commentator, eventually working up to take regular spots on the UFC’s broadcast team. All seemed well for the Englishman until March of 2021 when […]

Dan Hardy UFC state is run like Vladimir Putin Russia Dana White

Former UFC welterweight, Dan Hardy did not hold back when discussing Dana White and his latest venture, Power Slap.

Following his retirement in 2013, Hardy made the transition to analyst and commentator, eventually working up to take regular spots on the UFC’s broadcast team. All seemed well for the Englishman until March of 2021 when it was announced that Hardy and the UFC had parted ways. 

This came after an alleged incident, of which details are still vague, involving Hardy and a UFC employee backstage. White accused Hardy of ‘mistreating’ the female UFC staffer, but also came after Hardy had confronted referee Herb Dean on the broadcast, citing concern for featherweight Calvin Kattar during his fight with Max Holloway.

Since then, the relationship between Hardy and the UFC, in particular White, has been rocky and  the 40-year-old has not held back criticism of White and the promotion.

Dan Hardy compares UFC to ‘Putin’s Russia’

Talking to Petesy Carrol on Ariel Helwani’s YouTube channel, Hardy would reveal that UFC staff take issue with White’s Power Slap. ‘The Outlaw’ believes that the promotion has some serious issues, with White carrying much of the blame. 

“The majority of the people within the organization can’t stand it either, they just don’t feel like they have a choice”, said Hardy. “You know, it’s very much Putin’s Russia in the UFC right now. It’s depressing to see all these people that are usually really enthusiastic about mixed martial arts that are carrying this ridiculous circus of Power Slap on their side.

“The company’s been rotting from the inside for a long while, and now the rot’s starting to show on the outside. He’s [Dana White] gonna do more damage than anything else these days. He’s overstayed his welcome, absolutely.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Hardy has since began working with other MMA promotions such as Cage Warriors and PFL

Dan Hardy talks the UFC

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