Dan Hardy, UFC commentator, reveals he may fight again

D. Hardy hasn't fought since 2012, but wants to return to the sport. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @danhardymma

If MMA is a passionate sport for fight fans, for athletes, it is even more so. It's no surprise that many people who announce their retirement from the sport can't stay away and return soon after. A curious case is that of Dan Hardy.

In 2012, the Englishman, who was diagnosed with a heart problem, had to stop fighting. He currently works as a commentator for the UFC, but the desire to return to the octagon is still alive within him. To the North American website MMA Junkie, 'The Outlaw', 38 years old, surprised by revealing that the fact that some veterans still stand out motivates him to try to fight one last time.

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“I think about going back all the time. Edgar is still in business! It feels like I was at school when he debuted in MMA, even though I was older than him. I think MMA is about fight IQ and experience. Many fighters are achieving success as they get older. Lamas talked about retiring, but I thought he went very well. He impressed me and he is also 38 years old. When I was researching the last event on Ilha da Luta, I also discovered athletes older than me still in action ('Shogun', 'Minotouro' and 'massaranduba'),” said Hardy.

The former fighter, who was one of the fans' favorites, explained that, unlike many athletes who prefer to fight on the feet, he did not accumulate so much damage and warned that, if he one day returns to the sport, his opponent will have a difficult task.

“As much as I look at these fighters and say “wow, they’re still performing well at 38, 40, 42 years old,” I also look at the damage they’ve accumulated compared to me. I've been in the sport for a long time. I've only been knocked out once, I'm not getting punched in the head daily, and I haven't had a drink in years. If I decide to fight again, someone will pay and I don’t think people realize that,” he concluded.

Dan Hardy competed in 36 professional fights, winning 25 and losing ten (one no-contest). The Englishman became known when he joined the UFC, an organization in which he competed for the welterweight belt (77kg), but was defeated by the champion, Georges St-Pierre, and has worked as its commentator since 2014.