Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy eyeing a return to the Octagon

So once again the rumours are in that Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy has it in his mind that he would like to go one last time in the octagon before calling it a career. With the last outing at UFC on Fuel TV in September of 2012, I would not be surprised if some newer fans to the sport thought viewed Hardy as a commentator (a role alongside his analysis work in which I believe he truly excels) rather than as a fighter.

In a recent interview with MMAJunkieHardy has stated that he believes he has the medical paperwork that will allow him to fight after being sidelined earlier than he would have liked in his career due to an unusual case of  Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome. An illness which has cardiological symptoms such as an abnormally fast heartbeat, palpitations, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and loss of consciousness (thank you Wikipedia). He does state he would need to rejoin the USADA testing pool which would add a potential 4-month delay to any fights Hardy was looking at for what he describes as potentially his last bout.

Madison Square Garden in mentioned as a potential event that Hardy would be interested in and just about squeaks within the given USADA testing time frame. This event would be UFC 230 on the 10th November 2018 which at present has no fights linked to it but will likely see a headline bout featuring the mess that is the top of the lightweight division. Opposition wise, however, it becomes a bit tricky to predict who would be a good fight to welcome Hardy back after a 6-year lay-off. There have been a few fighters with Hardy’s name in their mouth most noticeably Welterweight Mickey Gall who called out Hardy after defeating Sage Northcutt.

Hardy has however repeatedly shot down the Mickey Gall fight idea stating that he isn’t interested in rankings or belts and would only return for a super fight style event. This got me thinking, and that’s usually not such a good thing, that we could have ourselves a legend match on our hand and in fact a legends fight that we have seen before. Yup, I’m talking Dan Hardy vs. Carlos Condit 2. Although the first fight did not go in Hardy’s favour (first-round knockout) it would be a perfect time for Hardy to settle the score against the always game Condit. It would also be an opportunity for Condit to perhaps break a losing streak that has been with him since losing to at that time welterweight champ Robbie Lawler at UFC 195.

In any case, I personally can’t wait to see a dynamic striker that is Dan “the Outlaw” Hardy back in the octagon with my only wish being that he brings back the sweet sweet red mohawk.