AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy

dan-hardy

The MMA Forums got the opportunity to ask Dan about his recent win over the King of Pancrase Daizo Ishige in Japan, his move to the US to train with Team Quest and Eddie Bravo and his thoughts on his upcoming bout with K-1 Hero's veteran Hidetaka Monma.

The MMA Forums : Dan, first thanks for taking the time out of your training to speak with us, could you tell our readers a bit about how you got into the Martial Arts and the styles you began with?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : I started training in Tae Kwon Do when I was six, I was into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at the time and was kicking and punching everything is sight. My parents decided to take me to a class so I could get it out of my system and I'm still working on it today!

The MMA Forums : How did you make the transition to MMA and what attracted you to it?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : After about ten years of training in TKD I started to do other styles and mix them together. I was doing Boxing and Muay Thai and then started working on my grappling after my first amateur MMA tournament. I was just looking for new challenges at the time and heard about it and decided to have a go.

The MMA Forums : Who has been your biggest influence to start Martial Arts and more specifically, Mixed Martial Arts?

Check out 'The Outlaw's' MySpace here:-

www.myspace.com/danhardy82

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : To start Martial Arts I would have to say the Turtles but for MMA, I dont really think I had one. I enjoyed watching lots of fighters but there wasnt a particular fighter that I wanted to be like, I just loved the sport.

The MMA Forums : You've been at Team Rough House since their beginning and you coach the MMA classes. They are producing some great fighters, how did you come to get involved with them?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : In the early days it was Paul Daley and Matt Howell competing on the amateur scene, I was training with another team. I got chatting to them and when I realised the other team wasnt going anywhere I called Paul and started training with him. Now we train together at the Bushido Gym in Nottingham where I help coach the Bushido team

The MMA Forums : You are the CageWarriors Light-Welterweight World Champion, which is tough organisation and have won an amazing 10 out of the 12 fights you had with them (1 no contest), 50% of which have been by KO/TKO, how have you evolved as a fighter over this time?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : I am always in the gym trying to work on new things because I'm never satisfied with my performance. Because I expect alot of myself I always push myself to improve and comparing my early fights for Cage Warriors to my more recent ones, I have improved alot. I still have alot more to learn but I'm determined to do it.

The MMA Forums : Since then you've headed to the States and been training with non other than Eddie Bravo and Team Quest, both of which have revolutionized Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. Could you describe the training you do with these camps for our readers?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : With Eddie and the 10th Planet guys, I have been doing alot of BJJ. My ground game is coming on fast and my subs are getting better, I'm planning on spending alot more time out there in the future. The Team Quest guys are great to train with. The sessions are very straight forward, we focus on a particular area of the game such as grappling with strikes and because all the guys are so good there, every round is hard work.

The MMA Forums : Is it different training so far away from home?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : Peoples strengths lie in different areas, most guys in the US have a good wrestling base which is what we are missing in the UK. Also, the training is a little more organized and professional.

The MMA Forums : You are currently competing in the GCM Cage Force Tournament in Tokyo, Japan and your record is now up to 15-5-0 after you defeated the reigning Welterweight King of Pancrase Daizo Ishige in May. Can you tell us how the fight went?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : It went pretty good. I would say I was working at about 65% of my potential during the fight because the jet lag effected me. Ishige was tough but apart from about a minute in the second round the fight was all mine.

The MMA Forums : You now face K-1 Hero's veteran Hidetaka Monma (13-6-3) on September 8th in the semi-finals and he has admitted that his opinion of you rose considerably after your defeat of Ishige. He says he is more than prepared for you. What are your thoughts?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : I'm going to smash him into dust. He is a talented fighter but he is going to have to kill me to get the win. I am prepared for anything he has to bring and he is going to wish he never even looked at me once I'm finished with him.

The MMA Forums : Should you win the Finals which are scheduled for December 1st, what would the title mean to you?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : It would mean that the World has to pay attention to me, I'm here like it or not. Nobody trains harder than me and nobody wants it more than me, this is my life.

The MMA Forums : Could you tell us some of the sacrifices that you have had to make in order to be successful MMA fighter?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : I have to make sacrifices every day from small things like not eating foods I like and getting up early to train to bigger things like being away from loved ones when I'm training. My life would be very different if I didn't have MMA but I wouldnt change it for anything. The sacrifices keep me focused and the people who love me understand.

The MMA Forums : Who would you like to face in the future in your weight division?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : I dont care, I have a few personal targets but my focus is the top of the division and I'll beat down anyone in my way.

The MMA Forums : Could you tell us who are the sponsors which allow you to train full-time.

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : I have some current sponsors and some in negotiations. At present I'm sponsored by myprotein.co.uk and fightshop.com, I am also in talks with Outlaw Fightgear regarding the future. I am always open to possibilities though so if anyone is interested in sponsoring me, email me at danhardy82 [at] hotmail [dot] com.

The MMA Forums : Lastly Dan, you have a huge number of fans who are pulling for you, both in the UK and around the world. Do you have any words for them?

Dan 'The Outlaw' Hardy : I have great fans and the support is so important to me so thank you all. If you see me out and about say hello, it's always good to meet new people.

The MMA Forums : Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions Dan and may we wish you the best of luck in your upcoming
fights.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check out Dan's MySpace page HERE for Highlight Videos, Pictures and further information.

'The Outlaw' is fighting in Cage Force 4 in Tokyo, Japan on September 8th which will see the Semi Finals of both the Welterweight and Lightweight Tournaments. See the website here and use babelfish to translate it from Japanese into another language should you wish.

Cage Warriors Fighting Championship are holding their next event - 'Enter The Rough House 4' on Sunday 14th October at Harvey Hadden Stadium in Nottingham, England. Visit their website HERE. See our 'Enter the Rough House 3' event report HERE.

Team Rough House where Dan amonst other great fighters both teach and train are located in Nottingham, England. Visit their website HERE for details and training schedules.

You can discuss the interview and see more great pictures HERE

If you liked this article please click the Digg button above. Thank you.