Ex-Welterweight Title Challenger Dan Hardy Targeting UFC Comeback in 2016

Dan Hardy is making plans for an Octagon return. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

While Dan Hardy seems to have transitioned nicely to the analyst’s chair, he isn’t ready to hang up his four-ounce gloves just yet.

According to a report on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight, Hardy is targeting a return to the Octagon sometime in 2016. The former welterweight No. 1 contender plans on holding a training camp toward the end of 2015 to get back into fighting shape while proving that he is no longer a health risk.

In 2013, Hardy was diagnosed with a heart condition known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, “an electrical pathway between the heart’s upper chambers and lower chambers that causes a rapid heartbeat,” according to mayoclinic.org. While the condition isn’t always life threatening, it can lead to death in severe cases. The diagnosis forced Hardy to pull out of a proposed clash against Jordan Mein at UFC on Fox 7, and he hasn’t been booked to fight since.

Hardy was last seen capturing a unanimous decision triumph over Amir Sadollah at UFC on Fuel TV 5 on Sept. 29, 2012. “The Outlaw” began his promotional tenure with four straight victories to earn a shot against then 170-pound champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 111. A lopsided unanimous decision loss to St. Pierre marked the beginning of a four-bout skid for the British striking specialist. He returned to the win column with a first-round stoppage of Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 before outpointing Sadollah in his last Octagon appearance.

Hardy has remained involved with the Las Vegas-based organization despite not being cleared to compete, as he serves as a commentator for many international events that stream via UFC Fight Pass.