(We know Dan, he watches over us all.)
It looks like Dan Hardy won’t be getting that fight against Matt Hughes he was angling for. And thank God, because we hear Hughes’ country breakfasts consist of Ovaltine and Total these days (we kind, we kid; they consist of grilled bobcat).
After going 0-4 through 2010 and 2011, Hardy has been matched up with a perfect opponent to kickstart 2012, when he takes on UFC veteran Duane “Bang” Ludwig at UFC 146. Hardy, who has not fought since falling to a third round guillotine choke in Chris Lytle’s retirement bout in August of 2011, took some time off to refocus, train, and get pestered by drunken fans. Ludwig also saw his last fight end by way of guillotine, only he chose to adhere to the “tapping is for bitches” rule when he was choked out by Josh Neer at UFC on FX. The loss snapped a two fight win streak for Ludwig, his first since 2008, which included wins over Nick Osipczak and Amir Sadollah.
Although this wasn’t the match Hardy wanted, you gotta imagine he’ll be stoked knowing he’s taking on a fellow slugger with a limited ground game. But it will be interesting to see if Hardy follows a more subdued gameplan here. Like we said, the man’s dropped 4 straight, and another loss could mean his Zuffa career. Then again, the only reason that he is still in the UFC is thanks to his consistently exciting performances, so a snoozer against Ludwig seems unlikely. Let’s just sit back and enjoy what is sure to be a war, ladies and gentlemen.
In other UFC 146 news…
Undefeated since dropping to lightweight, Minnesota native and potential stand up comedian Jacob Volkmann has been booked to take on undefeated triangle specialist Paul Sass at the same event. Volkmann has scored 5 straight dating back to his UFN 21 lightweight debut victory over Ronys Torres, all of which have come by form of decision. Though his politically outspoken personality and smothering wrestling game haven’t earned him a ton of fans, there is little denying the man’s strength and grappling prowess, which has earned him victories over Paul Kelly, Antonio McKee, and Efrain Escudero among others.
Collecting an incredible eight wins by way of triangle in just twelve contests, Paul Sass opted for his other bread-and-butter submission when he took out TUF 12 veteran Michael Johnson with a heel hook in the first round of their scrap at UFC Live 6. The victory was his second in the octagon, and his third to come by way of heel-hook (insert Rousimar Palhares reference here). Of Volkmann’s two losses, one has come by way of submission, so this fight will be a great litmus test for both parties involved.
Who you jabronis got for these?
-J. Jones
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Hardy will make a fight of it but I don’t think he’s a better striker than Ludwig and the wrestlefuck plan probably won’t pan out too well either.