(Like a kid on freaking Christmas. Photo courtesy of Combat Lifestyle’s UFC 105 press conference gallery.)

We can stop lamenting the lack of psychologically screwy antics from Dan Hardy, because "The Outlaw" kicked it up a notch during the UFC 105 press conference in Manchester.  Hardy showed up to present a "Runner-Up" trophy to Mike Swick in advance of their bout on Saturday and Swick, as you can see, was pretty excited about the whole thing.  But just when you think you’ve played a clever little joke on Swick, he turns it around on you:

"I want to thank Dan Hardy for this trophy.  It means a lot.  Coming runner-up in a press conference is pretty cool.  I just want everyone to know that I’m giving this right back to him after the fight.  My corner guys will carry it to the Octagon.  But I’ll keep it for now."

And just like that, the jokester becomes the fool.  If Marcus Davis and his indignant rage demonstrated the exact wrong way to deal with Hardy’s ribbing, Swick’s grinning reversal is probably the perfect blueprint for how to take Hardy’s jokes in stride.  Plus, how sweet is it going to be if Swick manages to knock Hardy out and then present him with that trophy when he comes to?  Answer: extremely sweet.