If you’re stepping into the Octagon against UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, you better be comfortable with the term “underdog.” Dan Hardy, who meets the French Canadian sensation at UFC 111 on March 27 in Newark, N.J., appears to have not only welcomed his role as longshot -- he’s derived inspiration from it.
The mohawked Brit’s confidence exudes both in and out of the cage. In between talk of bringing the title back to his native England, Hardy said he’s also looking forward to a challenge from the pound-for-pound great.
“Georges is the kind of guy that’s going to push me in areas I need to be pushed,” said the 27-year-old Hardy. “I want to explore what else I can do in the sport. I’m willing to stand and trade punches with anybody. No one’s really been able to force me to a ground game yet and I’m hoping Georges is that guy because I have a lot more to show.”
Hardy, who made his way to the east coast a few weeks ago to finish his training camp, found a kindred soul in Matt Serra, who wrested the title from St. Pierre in a first-round stunner at UFC 69 in April 2007. Hardy said he is currently on Long Island gleaning pointers from the upset king.
“More than anything, Matt’s been in there twice with Georges and obviously he won one and lost one,” said Hardy. “So, he’s got a lot of experience in there with the guy and obviously saw the mistakes he made in the second fight. He can relate to me so I don’t have to make those mistakes myself. I think he looks at me and sees the situation I’m in exactly same as the situation he was in the first time. No one gave him a snowflake’s chance in hell and he had a lot of belief in himself.”
St. Pierre, who trains regularly with Serra’s jiu-jitsu teacher Renzo Gracie, said he’s not concerned with the Hardy’s newfound mentorship.
“I’m not really surprised,” said St. Pierre. “I knew already that he was coming to New Jersey. I think it makes sense to him, but I don’t think it’s going to make any difference for me. I don’t focus on what Hardy does; I focus on what I do.”
The 28-year-old champion has even found his own motivation in facing who he believes is an underrated contender.
“It’s a chance for me, also, to redeem myself where I fell last time in the same situation (with Serra),” said St. Pierre, who described Hardy as the most dangerous opponent he’s faced yet. “I’ve never been so pumped up in my life for a fight.”
Although Hardy comes into the bout as high as an 8-to-1 underdog on some betting Web sites, the Rough House product shared in St. Pierre’s enthusiasm.
“I’ve got nothing to lose,” said Hardy. “I’m in a situation where I can go and have a good time and be myself and make a fight out of it….Me taking the belt off Georges is really going to open the place up. I think people are more excited about the potential of what could happen in the division when (I win) the belt more than the fight they think I can win.”