Hardy to Mirror Serra’s Strategy for GSP

Dan Hardy isn’t scared of Georges St. Pierre’s takedowns.

“To be honest, that’s not something I am too concerned with, as strange as it sounds,” Hardy told Sherdog.com recently. “I’ve accepted that, at some point, he’s going to take me down. I’ve accepted that I’m going to be fighting off my back for some of the fight and I’m just going to work to get back to my feet and do what damage I can from my back.”

Hardy will take his best shot at the UFC welterweight champion at UFC 111 on March 27 in Newark, N.J. The charismatic native of Nottingham, England, barged into title contention with four consecutive wins since joining the UFC just over a year ago. To keep that streak alive, he realizes he can’t worry too much about the takedowns or it will affect his ability to generate offense against St. Pierre.

“I don’t want it to become too much of an issue -- defending the takedown -- because I won’t throw like I do against anybody else,” Hardy said. “I don’t want to be holding back on any of my kicks and punches because, at the end of the day, that’s what is going to win me the fight. My intention is to go in there, throw hard, just like Matt Serra did, but obviously a little more technical -- I’m a little quicker and more technical. I’ve got reach and weight on Matt Serra, so I can do exactly what he did but a lot better.”

Hardy, 27, is a talented striker and virtual quote machine who had become as known for his ability to get under his opponents’ skin as for fighting skill. He did a lot to change that reputation with his dominating victory over a solid favorite in Mike Swick at UFC 105.

The win secured his date with GSP and also the wrath of a number of his fellow welterweights, notably Josh Koscheck, who doesn’t believe Hardy’s four UFC wins in four tries warrant a title shot.

“What are you going to do when I’ve got the belt?” Hardy asked of his counterparts. “You’ll all get your chance then. You can line up and I’ll knock you down, one at a time.”

Hardy’s success and personality have helped him become one of the most recognizable fighters from the United Kingdom. With that has come added expectations, however. The media schedule has been oppressive and will likely continue right up to the title fight. Carrying the weight of an entire nation’s MMA hopes -- he will be the first Brit to fight for a UFC belt -- might be a burden for some, but Hardy relishes the spotlight and believes it actually helps his focus.

“Of course there is added pressure because it’s Georges St. Pierre and it’s a five-round fight and there’s a belt on the line and all that, but like I always say, I always respond better under pressure,” Hardy said. “You know, if I’m under pressure, I’m more alert, I’m more switched on, I throw my punches harder, I fight at a faster pace. So it’s only going to work to my advantage.”

In bold fashion, something readily expected from the outspoken challenger, Hardy predicts a win over GSP.

“The fight’s basically going to be, I would say, two rounds of me defending takedowns and getting up off my back and landing shots as soon as I can, as soon as I can get some space, and in the third round I think I will connect with something clean and hurt him,” Hardy said. “I certainly think by that time he will already be opened up and bleeding.”

Hardy already has a vision of himself as the conquering hero returning to the cheers of his countrymen should his prediction ring true.

“It would be exciting,” he said. “The reaction I am getting for just having a title shot is just amazing. So to land in the U.K., Heathrow Airport, in London, with the belt around my waist is going to be amazing, really amazing.”