On the 2nd July 2022, Dan hardy will halt his retirement and return against fellow former UFC fighter Diego Sanchez in a hugely anticipated boxing match. The pair are set to clash in a 2 minute, 8-round exhibition bout on the card built around boxing legends Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy
Hardy stated that he wants to put on a performance where he doesn’t look like a 40-year old that has been out of action for the last ten years; and that he is very serious about this fight, suggesting he wants to make up for the lost time. He also seems relaxed and very happy to be returning back into the spotlight and has missed performing.
“This is it,” Hardy told The Mac Life. “I mean, of course. You know, there are certain things that you need to have, your timing, but you can get that from sparring. I have been immersed in the fight game ever since. It wasn’t like I stepped away and just disappeared. I mean, I have been obsessing about combat sports ever since my last fight and before.”
“So it doesn’t feel like 10 years, it’s crazy,” he continued. “I feel like I’m couple years down the line. I still think I’m in my 20s in my head as well.”
Hardy discussed the main differences in getting back into the fight game, stating that he is more mature and balanced, allowing him to implement a fight plan and apply himself a lot better than he has done previously.
Returning Against Fellow UFC Legend
Talking about his opponent, “The Outlaw” suggests he was glad to see Sanchez’s last fight against Kevin Lee at Eagle FC 46. He discussed that he looked better than he had done in a long, long time. Hardy knows what he’s capable of, which has been in the fight game for a long time. Also, discussing Sanchez, he suggests that he went through phases a bit crazy, wild and unpredictable, which may have damaged his stock, though he seems to be closer to his old self.
Hardy feels like he has the advantage of him having a length of time and experience training with professional boxers; and knows he will be the more technical, crisp fighter who will hit harder and sharper. Stating potential problems when fighting Sanchez is that he can be wild and unpredictable, also holding KO power. He is interested to see what he will do with the limited ruleset.
A lot of people are eagerly anticipating the return of Dan Hardy. How do you think the fight will pan out?
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Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
