Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy has been extremely vocal with his opinions and ideas concerning his upcoming bout with former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit. Hardy feels that Condit should not have requested to fight him and should have sought an easier opponent. Whether or not this is simply trash talk or mental games on the part of Hardy, Condit appears to be unaffected. When asked at the pre-fight press conference about his thoughts on Condit requesting to fight him, Hardy said:
“I think it was a little silly, to be honest. Of all the people he could’ve fought in the division, there are a lot of easier fighters out there than me. I mean, I might not be the best wrestler or the best Jiu-Jitsu guy in the world, but I don’t back down, I don’t tap out, and I don’t give up. Any night in the octagon with me’s going to be a rough night and I think he (Condit) knows that.”
Hardy even went on to insinuate that Condit’s flight delay was due to his reluctance to follow through and take this fight. On the subject, Hardy quipped: “Respect for him getting over here. I was worried the other day when I heard about him now getting on the plane, I thought he was trying to wiggle his way out. He’s here, be it by his own will or somebody else’s.”
Regardless of the mental games, Condit held his composure and class quite well, saying “He’s a tough fighter—I want to be in tough fights, I want to be in exciting fights, I think in the past I’ve always risen to the level of my opponents, and I think Saturday night’s gonna be no different.”
Hardy and Condit face off at UFC 120 on Saturday, October 16, at the O2 arena in London, England.
Tags: UFC, Welterweight
