Tensions boiled over ahead of PFL Brussels as a scheduled bout nearly erupted a day early during the ceremonial weigh-ins.
What was supposed to be a routine faceoff between Khamzat Abaev and Luca Poclit quickly spiraled into chaos when both fighters brought unexpected intensity to the stage. Poclit stepped forward aggressively with his guard raised, prompting an immediate reaction from Abaev.
The situation escalated within seconds. Abaev responded with a shove and even swung a kick in close quarters, forcing officials to step in. However, attempts to calm things down only made matters worse, as members of both camps got involved and punches began flying behind them.
In the middle of it all was Dan Hardy, who was overseeing the faceoffs. The former UFC fighter found himself caught in the chaos, nearly getting struck during the exchange as he tried to keep the fighters separated.
Despite Hardy’s efforts, the situation briefly spiraled out of control before security intervened and restored order. No serious injuries were reported, but the incident added unexpected drama to the event’s buildup.
Ironically, the altercation came ahead of a preliminary card welterweight bout, not the main event. The card itself is set to take place at ING Arena in Brussels, with Benson Henderson headlining against Patrick Habirora.
After Friday’s explosive scenes, all eyes will now be on Abaev and Poclit to see if they carry that same intensity into the cage when they officially meet on Saturday night.
Brussels is ready for the return of the PFL!
🇫🇷Baris Adiguzel vs Gustavo Oliveira 🇧🇷 🇸🇷Donegi Abena vs Joe Schilling 🇺🇸 🇫🇷Adam Meskini vs Keweny Lopes 🇧🇷 🇧🇪Rustam Serbiev vs Ashley Reece 🏴
The Prelims kick off with some absolute bangers! What fight will steal the show in… pic.twitter.com/EWGm1X3vs0
According to a PFL executive, Jake Paul has no intention of putting his boxing career on hold to transition into MMA.
More than two years have passed since Paul inked an exclusive deal with the PFL in January 2023 to make his cage debut. In partnership with the New York-based MMA promotion, “The Problem Child” launched the PPV Super Fight division, a pay-per-view platform designed to give fighters a 50% share of event profits.
Since then, the 28-year-old Ohio native has repeatedly teased his MMA debut, stirring the pot by calling out UFC superstars like Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, and other big-name fighters for a matchup in the cage.
And according to PFL Europe’s Head of Fighter Operations, Dan Hardy, it’s unlikely that anything will change for Paul anytime soon.
During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Hardy noted that it’s increasingly improbable that “The Problem Child” will hit pause on his boxing career to make the switch to MMA.
“Do we ever see him in MMA? I don’t think so,” Hardy said. “I think he’s pretty focused on boxing. It’s a lot of work for him to cross over to mixed martial arts, and he’s not going to fight anybody that you’ve never heard of before. It’s going to have to be a decent name or otherwise people won’t watch it. Even old guys in MMA could still handle business, I think, with Jake Paul.”
Paul was last seen in action in November, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over the legendary Mike Tyson. “The Problem Child” was also reportedly in talks for a high-profile showdown with multi-division champion Canelo Alvarez. However, those negotiations ultimately fell through when Alvarez signed a high-paying, exclusive contract under the Riyadh Season banner.
In Dan Hardy’s eyes, the only intriguing opponent for Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall sits outside of the promotion.
Aspinall continues to await news of his next assignment. Despite the division boasting two titleholders for the past 16 months, it remains unclear whether the British powerhouse and Jon Jones will meet in a unification fight.
Following Jones’ successful defense against Stipe Miocic last November, Dana White gave his backing for “Bones” to face Aspinall next. Negotiations for that coming to fruition are seemingly underway.
And according to Hardy, the UFC higher-ups better make Jones an offer he can’t refuse lest they be left with zero “legit” matchups for Aspinall.
Though many might disagree and point to a heavyweight clash with current 205-pound kingpin Alex Pereira, “The Outlaw” believes only PFL star Francis Ngannou would be adequate opposition for the Manchester native.
“Of course, Pereira could touch anybody on the chin on the planet and knock them out. But if you’re looking for a real, legit heavyweight contender for Tom, maybe I’m a broken record, but it has to be Ngannou,” Hardy said during a recent appearance on Submission Radio. “There isn’t anybody else, really. I don’t see any other fight that truly excites me. I can point at that and say, ‘That’s the heavyweight king.’ And I don’t even think I could say that if it was Jones versus Aspinall at this point, because I don’t feel like Jones is — I mean, he’s potentially number three in the heavyweight division right now, behind Ngannou and Aspinall.
“You have to admit, though, someone else in Tom Aspinall’s position might just say, ‘Hey, give me Pereira. Let’s just fight now,’ because that would bring so much money,” Hardy continued. “But he wants the tougher fight in Jon Jones, and if Francis Ngannou were around, he’d want the tougher fight in Francis Ngannou. So it’s one of those things where we should reward the guys that deserve to be rewarded.”
Dakota Ditcheva was one of the stand out stars of 2024, as seen in MMA News’ end of year awards. The female fighter of the year achieved incredible things in the PFL to prove once and for all that she is the real deal.
Rousey’s personality and success inside the Octagon brought a new spotlight to the female side of the sport as she transcended MMA to become a mainstream sports star. Given Ditcheva’s star quality and proven capabilities inside the cage, the Brit could be heading the same way.
In a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, PFL commentator Dan Hardy spoke about what he believes is the key difference between Ditcheva and “Rowdy”. “The Outlaw” thinks that whilst both women have specialist skill sets to some degree, the reigning PFL flyweight champion has shown that she can do everything when she needs to.
“Ronda was a pioneer in martial arts, women’s martial arts in particular, but the reason why she was so effective is because she was particularly overwhelming in one range, right? Like, she came in, she grabbed a hold of somebody, threw them to the floor, and wrenched their arm off. Whereas Dakota, over the last two years, has also shown that she’s a fully well-rounded MMA fighter.”
Her performance in the finals where she dismantled Taila Santos before stopping her in the second round was proof of this. Rousey was able to run right through the opposition that was put in front of her as well until all of a sudden, the sport had moved on. For Ditcheva, she has proven this year that she’s far more well-rounded than the former face of women’s MMA.
“I think that’s another thing that gives people a lot of confidence that she could compete with anyone in the world. She can grapple and stay safe if she hits the floor with a world-class jiu-jitsu player. And her takedown defense coupled with those Muay Thai knees could put anybody away. And she’s also got the frame that’s perfect for this weight class. I could make the argument right now that she could beat anybody in this weight class on the planet.”
Following that, “The Problem Child” has continued to boast big aspirations, once again vowing to become a world champion and calling out the likes of Canelo Álvarez. And with that, past talk of an MMA transition has quietened.
Paul previously looked close to a first cage appearance after signing with the Professional Fighters League at the start of 2023. During a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, Hardy — a former UFC title challenger and the head of fighter operations for PFL Europe — pondered the polarizing ex-Disney star’s potential MMA arrival.
“I was excited about the idea that Jake Paul would have a go at mixed martial arts. And I thought to myself he’s going to come to MMA with the same energy, we know he’s got a wrestling background as well,” Hardy said. “He’s in a weird situation, isn’t he? Because who do you match (him) up against?”
Talk of Paul’s debut in the sport most recently returned to the surface when former Glory Kickboxing champ Cédric Doumbé included him on the list of possible 2025 opponents while addressing the crowd in Lyon at the PFL Europe championship event this month.
In the eyes of Hardy, the Frenchman is a realistic opponent option for Paul.
“Cédric Doumbé had mentioned a few different people he would fight, and Jake Paul was on the list. Doumbé’s got a great kickboxing background, but he only has a few fights in MMA. And he’s a striker, so he’s not going to want to grapple with Jake Paul,” Hardy continued. “Doumbé’s a bit older, but he’s definitely smaller. That could be a good one, even in boxing, I think Cédric Doumbé vs. Jake Paul would be a lot of fun.”
There remains no timeline on an MMA venture for Paul, whose most recent tease regarding a combat sports assignment explicitly mentioned the boxing realm once again.
Doumbé, meanwhile, is seemingly eying up a rematch with Baissangour “Baki” Chamsoudinov after the controversial end to their headline clash in Paris earlier this year.
Jon Jones isn’t just the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, he’s largely considered to be the greatest of all time. However, as Dan Hardy spoke about in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s the best in his weight class right now.
Many believe that with the sheer amount of heavyweights he has beaten compared to Jones, interim champion Tom Aspinall might be the best in the weight class even if he doesn’t have the longevity of somebody like “Bones” just yet. Francis Ngannou left the UFC without ever losing his heavyweight title and in his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira, he showed that he also has to be in the conversation.
Hardy believes that if there was a fight to decide the best heavyweight on the planet, Jones wouldn’t even factor into the equation.
“I think Jon Jones is the pound-for-pound best. I think he’s the best representation of mixed martial arts generally that we’ve ever seen. I think he’s still evolving, which is terrifying. But is he the best current heavyweight on the planet? I don’t think so.
“I think the winner of Aspinall versus Ngannou would be the answer … no disrespect in any way to Jon. Current heavyweight champion but not the current best heavyweight on the planet. Certainly not.”
Hardy went on to describe Jones as “bottom of the rung” in regards to the incredible physicality that Aspinall and Ngannou bring to the table as legitimate heavyweight-sized competitors though he would hold advantages in other areas.
“The creativity of Jon Jones and the wisdom, the fight IQ, that reigns supreme. I just wonder if he’s got that ability in the heavyweight division with someone as fast as Tom Aspinall and someone as powerful as Francis Ngannou. There were times when Stipe [Miocic] landed [on Jones at UFC 309] and I think if Ngannou lands those shots, Jon Jones doesn’t get back up.
“I also think the speed of Tom Aspinall would allow him to land punches against Jon Jones and Ngannou that both of those guys wouldn’t see coming and wouldn’t be able to stop. The question is would he be able to do that kind of damage to knock them out. I don’t know. I’ve seen Francis take some big shots. I know obviously he got knocked out by Anthony Joshua but at the same time, you’re talking of an elite level boxer who’s an incredible athlete at the same time. I mean, it’s just so difficult to pick one.”
At the 2024 PFL Championships this Friday in Riyadh, Dakota Ditcheva faces her toughest test to date as the undefeated striker takes on Taila Santos. For all of the hype surrounding the British striker, there has been a lot of doubts as well with some saying that she hasn’t been tested at the top level yet.
With every step-up in the quality of her opponents, the former PFL Europe champion has blasted through them also, winning all three of her fights this season via a knockout in the first round. Santos, however, is an opponent that fight fans know is a legitimate threat to her.
The former UFC fighter competed in one of the most controversial bouts in recent years when at UFC 275 she fought to a split decision against Valentina Shevchenko with many believing that she did enough to secure the victory. PFL commentator Dan Hardy believes that with a strong showing against Santos, Ditcheva can prove that she isn’t just the best flyweight in the PFL, she’s the best in the world.
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Hardy said that Santos is a tough test for Ditcheva but she’s also a measuring stick for the undefeated star to use.
“I mean I certainly think so and the fact that Santos has been the distance with Shevchenko is going to make it easier for the fans to see the difference in Dakota’s skills compared to Shevchenko.”
After comparing the point fighting style of Shevchenko to the lethal striking of Ditcheva, Hardy said if she’s able to beat Santos and look impressive whilst doing it, there can be no more doubting her.
“If Dakota’s got enough skills in her game to stuff takedowns or to get back to her feet or to defend any submissions that she finds herself in in this fight coming up, if she proves that she’s got enough grappling for people to go, ‘You know what, I think that would work against Shevchenko as well’, then I don’t really think there’s much of a question around Dakota’s striking compared to Shevchenko.”
In 2013, UK MMA pioneer Dan Hardy retired from competition after being diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, which meant he wouldn’t be cleared to fight.
Hardy would later find out and reveal five years down the line that a second opinion from a different doctor revealed that with him not feeling any of the effects of the condition, he could’ve continued fighting.
Instead, the former UFC welterweight title challenger had already began his career as a commentator and analyst, which would eventually lead him to the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
As a key figure in the promotion as both a color commentator and the head of fighter operations for PFL Europe, Hardy is playing a pivotal role in helping to structure the promotion.
“The Outlaw” spoke in a recent interview with Sky Sports about wanting to bring in a “masters division” for older fighters who want to continue competing. Instead of fighting the next wave of upcoming contenders, they’d be facing opponents who are ay similar stage of their careers.
In fact, Hardy himself would be open to the idea of competing in that bracket.
Dan Hardy Teases Potentially Competing In ‘Masters Division’ In The PFL
Hardy has wanted to make a combat sports return for many years now, but in every instance, the fights or plans have fallen through for various reasons.
However, competing under the PFL banner against fellow legends and veterans of the sport would appear to be the most realistic and suitable option for an MMA comeback.
When asked whether he would put himself forward for a masters division, Hardy said that he has recently tried to speak to the PFL about having him step back inside the cage.
“Hey, why not? Yeah, why not. I actually said to the PFL the other day, we were coming out of an event and I said, ‘Look, like, I’ll dust off and come back for another 12 months,’ and I gave them three or four names. I’d be like, ‘Look, this is a good little selection of names.’”
When asked if he was being serious, he doubled down on the idea of competing once again to cap off his 36-fight pro career.
“Yeah, I’ll always fight. I’ll always fight, I love fighting, I love the adrenaline rush of it. I love the ‘do or die’ feeling of a fight, it’s the singlemindedness. You’re getting in there, you’re throwing techniques and you know, you’re hoping that your game plan is going to be the one that is victorious. I’m a little bit older now, absolutely, but of course, if we’ve got a masters division and I’ve got a few good ideas in mind…”
Sky Sports’ Nik Hobbs questioned whether Hardy would be willing to reveal any of the names that he put forward to the PFL. After some hesitation, he named former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis as a potential opponent.
“Not right now, no. But, well, I will say Anthony Pettis has always been someone I’ve had a lot of respect for and his name has been thrown around a few times regarding a future opponent for me. So maybe that’s an option, but we’ll see.”
Francis Ngannou found himself in the news without doing anything the week before the press conference for his PFL debut.
“The Predator” may be gearing up for his long awaited MMA return where he will face Renan Ferreira on October 19 but the legacy he left behind in the UFC will never be forgotten.
Though Dana White did apologise for this and put it down to a miscommunication, it certainly wasn’t the first time that the UFC have tailored things to better suit the promotion.
Dan Hardy Says Francis Ngannou’s UFC Erasure Was Sad But Not Surprising Based On Track Record
During a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, PFL commentator Dan Hardy gave his thoughts on the discourse regarding the UFC’s conduct around the career of their former heavyweight champion, who left the promotion on less than stellar terms.
“The Outlaw” spoke about the comparisons between Ngannou’s treatment and that of Randy Couture, who also left to sign with another promotion and wasn’t remembered fondly by the UFC as a result.
“It was sad to see and it didn’t surprise me unfortunately and I did see what Dana’s reply was about the fact that the editors had assumed that’s what he would have chosen and what he would have wanted and look, they were probably right because it’s happened so many times in history. Ngannou and Randy, they’re two fantastically credible names in the sport.”
Hardy was also able to draw from his own experiences, even if his was on a smaller scale.
The current Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe left the promotion in 2021 after some disagreements with the UFC, both publicly and privately.
He recalled how he was seemingly wiped from the history of UK MMA during an event in London where his wife, Veronica, was in action.
Despite being the first Brit to challenge for a UFC title when he faced Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight belt, “The Outlaw” was nowhere to be seen across the celebrations of the sport in this region.
“My history in the UFC is far more mediocre in comparison but even so, at UFC London when Veronica was on the card, there’s posters of all the UK fighters on all of the underground tubes and everything and of course, I’m not there. It does happen, they do it a lot.
“It makes no difference to me, I can dye my hair red and walk down the street and people will remember my fights. It’s just kind of a weird thing to see and for people like Randy and Ngannou, they need to be celebrated because they’ve inspired so many people, myself included. They shouldn’t be omitted, they’re part of the fabric of the sport and I think the fans will always remember that.”
Ngannou is set to make his long awaited return to MMA when he debuts in the PFL on October 19 against PFL champion, Renan Ferreira.
The fight will see the winner claim the PFL Super Fights belt but with Ngannou never losing his UFC title, he has to be in the conversation for still being the best out there and therefore, Ferreira can also enter that discussion with a win.
Dan Hardy On Who The Best Heavyweight In The World Is
In a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, PFL commentator Dan Hardy gave his thoughts on the magnitude of the fight that is billed as “Battle of the Giants”.
For what it’s worth, he also weighed in on the current Jones, Miocic, and Aspinall debate, making it clear who his pick is for the best of the bunch.
“We’re potentially going to find out who the best heavyweight is on the planet. There’s a lot of conversation on the other side around Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, Miocic, etc. Right now for me, Tom Aspinall is head & shoulders above Jon Jones and Stipe just based on his activity.”
With Aspinall being his pick for the best heavyweight in the UFC, Hardy said that a fight between the Brit and the winner of Ngannou vs. Ferreira may be the very pinnacle of the weight class.
“But, then you compare Tom Aspinall to Ngannou and Ferreira and that might be the fight to determine who the best heavyweight is on the planet, the winner of the Ngannou-Ferreira fight and then Tom Aspinall. It’s exciting. As an MMA fan, I love speculating about these things, it’s very rare that we get to match a current PFL champion against the heavyweight king of the world, Francis Ngannou.”
Earlier this year, in his second venture into pro boxing, he was stopped for the first time in his career by Anthony Joshua.
It was a devastating finish after being dropped several times in the early stages of the fight and we don’t know how Ngannou will bounce back from such a tough loss.
In Renan Ferreira, he meets a fellow super-athlete who has proven his ability to connect with massive power at an unmatched range.
We have seen Ngannou use his grappling to secure the win when he defeated fellow-striker Ciryl Gane but will this be the same version that we see in Riyadh later this year?
Dan Hardy Breaks Down What Version Of Francis Ngannou We Will See On His Return
If there’s one area that is a weakness on Ferreira’s side, it’s his wrestling ability which has been an issue for him during his PFL career.
PFL commentator and analyst Dan Hardy isn’t convinced that even with this in mind, we will see Ngannou lace up his wrestling shoes because it’s not his usual game.
“It certainly could, especially the psychology around it right. Especially that first round where I mean, it’s not like he’s stepping back in against another heavyweight, like this guy is a legit phenom. He’s a freak, he’s tall, he’s fast, he can do backflips off of one leg, it’s ridiculous. So then you’ve got to think, if I’m Francis Ngannou and I’m standing across from this guy, I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well, I might wrestle but then I’ve got five rounds. If I start to slow down over five rounds, this guy could beat me up with a jab from a distance.’
“So for me, the confident but reckless Ngannou is the real danger on the feet in this one and we might see him go back to his wrestling again but ultimately, I think that the work that Ferreira has done at ATT [American top Team] has really shored up his wrestling and his grappling so even that’s not a foregone conclusion. I think we’re going to get a striking extravaganza and really, honestly, it’s the first one to land clean.”
Conor McGregor has fought through injuries throughout his career and had never pulled out of a scheduled matchup until UFC 303. While past opponents and some rivals have taken sly digs at the Irishman, others have recognized the risks of fighting with a broken toe.
By the time McGregor returns, he’d have been out of the Octagon for over three years. The former two-division champion lost three out of his last four fights, and it is hard to see the win over Cerrone as a feather in his cap.
Naturally, “The Notorious” aims to be fully prepared for his return. Getting back in the win column will instantly open up a ton of exciting fights for the Dubliner.
For now, though, plenty of focus remains on McGregor’s decision to pull out of UFC 303. But Dan Hardy has a different view to many critics when it comes to the UFC 303 drama and McGregor’s injury…
Hardy Claims Conor McGregor Respects Michael Chandler Enough Not To Fight Him With A Broken Toe
Hardy recently appeared on the From The Stands YouTube channel and talked about the postponed fight between McGregor and Chandler.
The former UFC welterweight title challenger instantly pointed out that the McGregor we’ve long known would never pull out of a fight that he thinks is winnable despite an injury.
“We know what Conor’s like, he’s not going to pull out of a fight that he feels like he can win, even if he is injured. I think this shows that he’s got a lot of respect for Michael Chandler and he knows that he needs to be on his A game because, I mean, he wants to get back on track, right? He wants to be back in the win column.”
”The Outlaw” also reviewed the importance of toes for McGregor to make the most of his wide striking stance.
“What we know about McGregor is that, you know, he is, you know, he’s very much about footwork, especially the best versions of McGregor, (it) requires him to be mobile. And he’s got a long stance, which means he uses the big toe and the little toe just as much as one another to keep himself mobile.”
McGregor mostly gained acclaim for his consistency and willingness to fight during his rise to stardom. In contrast, he now has everything he ever wanted from the sport. On top of that, losing three fights in a row will naturally hurt his brand.
“You know, you can’t really say anything negative about him because we know that (he) would take fights on short notice if you felt capable of competing. And I really want the best version of McGregor because ultimately we might be counting on one hand the amount of times we see him fight again.”
All these factors compel Hardy to side with McGregor for taking his time leading into the Chandler fight.
The UFC’s welterweight division has always been one of the most talent-stacked weight classes in MMA.
Champions such as Georges St-Pierre, Tyron Woodley, and Kamaru Usman have each built legacies at 170 pounds that will be spoken about for decades to come, while other names like Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, and Carlos Condit have all gone down in the history books as some of the finest fighters to ever grace the sport.
Current welterweight champion Leon Edwards is set to defend his title against Belal Muhammed in Manchester, England, later this month, and there are a number of exciting options awaiting “Rocky” should he emerge victorious from the main event of UFC 304 on July 27.
Dan Hardy Gives His Thoughts On New UFC Welterweight Stars
Another UFC welterweight legend has been giving his thoughts on the exciting young prospects populating the top 10 at 170 pounds this week.
Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy fought in the Octagon 10 times between 2008 and 2012 and faced Georges St-Pierre for the title at UFC 111, so it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about what it takes to hang with the elite of that particular division.
“It does feel like it’s wide open,” Hardy said during a recent appearance on the From The Stands podcast. “We’ve got a lot of newer faces in the division now that have started to come and clear out the Colby Covingtons and Kamaru Usmans that are no longer really in the topics of conversation, which is good for the division.
“We talk about Shavkat (Rakhmonov), and Ian Garry…either him or Shavkat (are talked about as) being the guy,” Hardy continued. “Clearly Ian Garry holds him in very high regard, as we all do as well. but Ian Garry and Shavkat are two of the new faces that are most likely going to define this division in the next few years.”
Hardy also added two more names to the list.
“Jack Della Maddalena…some of the best hands in all of mixed martial arts in my opinion. He’s got very, very slick boxing. I think he can go a long way.
“Another one…Sean Brady. I still feel like Sean Brady’s going to be one of the most difficult fights for any single person in the division.”
With a combined record of 66 wins and only three losses, the quartet of Garry, Rakhmonov, Brady, and Della Maddalena are not only freshening up the welterweight division, they seem to be raising the bar to new heights entirely.
With a rematch of their boxing showdown in the steel surroundings of a cage looking unlikely, Jake Paul has been pitched an opponent other than Nate Diaz for his potential mixed martial arts venture.
While building his record in the sport of professional boxing, Paul has long outlined his intention to also make a splash in the MMA world too. That appeared to take a step closer to coming to fruition in early 2023 when he put pen to paper on an MMA-exclusive deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
At the time, the promotion noted that “The Problem Child” would spearhead its new PPV Super Fight division and make his debut in the SmartCage that same year. But in addition to 2023 completing without the ex-Disney star putting his MMA ambitions into motion, another calendar year is on its way to passing by.
After defeating former UFC star Nate Diaz in the ring last August, both Paul and the PFL higher-ups made public pleas for the Stockton native to meet the longtime online personality in the cage.
Since Diaz firmly dismissed that as a possibility, Paul’s focus has remained on boxing, where he’s set to face BKFC star Mike Perry later this month and heavyweight legend Mike Tyson toward the back end of 2024.
With that, the chances of Paul crossing over to the cage are looking increasingly more unlikely. One ex-fighter and key figure in the PFL’s expansion, however, still sees an opponent who could convince the Cleveland native to lace the 4oz gloves…
Hardy: Paul Could Be ‘Enticed’ To MMA For Woodley Fight
During an interview with MMA Fighting, Dan Hardy — a former UFC title challenger and the current director of fighter operations for PFL Europe — was asked about the current state of Paul’s plans in MMA.
After noting that a bout with Diaz appeared to take up all of Paul’s mixed martial arts interest, “The Outlaw” suggested that Diaz’s rejection stems from his fear of a stock-damaging defeat to “The Problem Child” in his realm of the fight game.
With that ship seemingly sailing, Hardy does have another name in mind that could reignite Paul’s interest in MMA.
“I think the idea ultimately was for Jake Paul to be able to get Nate Diaz in a cage and fight him in mixed martial arts,” Hardy said. “I think he had his heart set on Nate Diaz and I don’t think Nate Diaz wants to take the risk of sullying his name and his brand by losing to Jake in an MMA fight. I hate to say it but after watching the boxing match, I think Jake could potentially be a problem for Nate in MMA.
“If we’re doing it, the one that makes the most sense is Tyron Woodley. He’s been commentating with the PFL, he does a great job with that. Every time I see him, we have a very frosty handshake. I feel like he still wants to punch me in the face,” Hardy continued. “Of course, he’s got that knockout loss to Jake Paul. If I’m Tyron Woodley, I’m putting myself at the front of the line to welcome Jake Paul into MMA. I think that’s the kind of opponent Jake Paul could be enticed by.”
Paul and Woodley certainly have a history, having faced each other twice inside the squared circle. While their first contest in August 2021 was a close and competitive affair, the short-notice rematch four months later concluded with the former UFC champion face down on the canvas.
Having continued to express his plans to revisit MMA three years on from his UFC exit, perhaps “The Chosen One” will raise his hand for the task of welcoming Paul to the SmartCage.
For now, though, the polarizing YouTuber-turned-boxer will have his sights on a different ex-UFC athlete in Perry, who has emerged as a leading figure in bare-knuckle boxing owing to victories over Michael “Venom” Page, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Thiago Alves.
Despite Tyron Woodley being set to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul for a second time this weekend, his fellow former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy still hopes to fight him in 2022.
Woodley, a former UFC Welterweight Champion, departed MMA’s biggest stage after losing four fights on the bounce. After an unlikely feud with Paul developed following the internet personality’s boxing match with Woodley’s teammate Ben Askren, “The Chosen One” put his reputation on the line by throwing on the gloves for a bout with “The Problem Child.”
After a largely uneventful eight rounds, the combat sports community was left disappointed as Woodley fell on the wrong side of a split decision. Despite his calls for a rematch, which culminated in him seemingly honoring a pre-fight tattoo bet, Woodley appeared to be left out in the cold by Paul, who suggested he’d never run it back with the 39-year-old.
With the latest revelation, it stands to reason that this clash could be in jeopardy, especially if Woodley emerges victorious on December 18 and sets up a trilogy match with Paul. But despite surprisingly rooting for his foe, Hardy still believes he could be standing face-to-face with Woodley next year.
During an appearance on Submission Radio, “The Outlaw” suggested his planned matchup with Woodley, which was looking good for March, still has time to go ahead.
“It makes sense as to why he’s gone a bit quiet with the other promoter that we’ve been speaking to. Because, you know, they probably had him in reserve thinking one of these guys might fall out anyway. But, you know, the fight that we were talking about is in March, so there’s still time to make that happen… If he wants to fight, I’ll fight him. As long as he knows that’s the facts then I’m happy. He knows that there’s a contract on the table, and if he doesn’t sign it, then he knows the reasons why and they’re between him and himself.”
Tyron Woodley has since come out and stated that a fight against Hardy does not excite him, thus throwing even more cold water on this bout taking place. Still, who’d have thought that a Jake Paul performance in the ring would play a factor in whether or not we see Dan Hardy, who hasn’t competed since 2012, and a former UFC champion throwing on the boxing gloves? What a bizarre state combat sports is in.
Would you like to see Dan Hardy and Tyron Woodley settle their differences inside the squared circle next year?
Former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley has suggested a potential boxing match against Dan Hardy isn’t an exciting prospect for him.
Woodley has made an unlikely crossover into the world of celebrity boxing since his release from the UFC earlier this year. Following four consecutive losses against Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns, Colby Covington, and Vicente Luque, “The Chosen One” found himself in search of a new venture in combat sports.
That came in the surprising form of a journey into the ring to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. To the disappointment of most in the MMA community, Woodley fell on the wrong side of a split decision and allowed Paul’s unbeaten boxing record to extend.
Whilst Woodley immediately and publicly called for a rematch, even appearing to get the pre-agreed tattoo forfeit, Paul moved on and was set to face a professional boxer for the first time in the form of Tommy Fury. However, “TNT” pulled out earlier this month, leaving the door open for Woodley to snatch at an unlikely rematch. The pair will now run it back in Florida this weekend.
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Woodley: Paul Rematch Is “More Exciting” Than Hardy Clash
After Fury’s withdrawal and Woodley’s short-notice opportunity, Hardy discussed his own feud with “The Chosen One” on Submission Radio, suggesting the contract had been agreed to on his end for the March date. Even with the latest development, which has seen him surprisingly support Woodley, “The Outlaw” suggested their clash could still be made in time for 2022.
However, that seems to be a largely one-sided intention. During his own appearance on Submission Radio, Woodley confirmed that he never signed the contract. The 39-year-old admitted he only wants fights against big names that excite him, boxes he doesn’t believe a Hardy matchup checks.
“If I wanted just a little easy, walk-through fight, where I feel like just going in there and beating somebody up, maybe I entertain it. But I never signed the contract to fight him. Some people on Monday were talking to my management team about me fighting him, and I’ll listen, but I didn’t commit. At the end of the day I’m focused more on this (Jake Paul rematch). This is more exciting. More people care about this. Nobody even knows who he is (Hardy).
“I’m not against anything in 2022. But when it comes down to boxing. If this trilogy with Jake goes the way I plan it… I need something that excites me. When you see Dan Hardy’s name on a piece of paper it don’t make me like, ‘Ah I gotta do this,’ you know what I mean? Avenging a loss, or fighting somebody big, or super-fights; anything like that at my point in my life right now, that gets me out the bed, gets me training. Dan Hardy, take a ticket, take a number.”
While the claim that nobody knows who Hardy is can perhaps be disputed, the idea that Paul is a much bigger draw and will bag Woodley a much more handsome paycheck certainly isn’t up for debate. That’s especially true now that “The Problem Child” has offered Woodley a $500k bonus if he can knock him out on December 18.
The first clash between Paul and Woodley, which took place in August this year, sold around 500,000 pay-per-view buys. It’s hard to imagine Woodley vs. Hardy coming even close to that figure. With those numbers in mind, it’s easy to understand why Woodley wanted to prioritize the rematch with Paul over a grudge match against Hardy.
Would you like to see Tyron Woodley and Dan Hardy settle their differences inside the squared circle next year?
Former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy is rooting for Tyron Woodley to exact revenge on Jake Paul in their upcoming rematch and set up a trilogy with “The Problem Child.”
Paul, a YouTube star who’s made a crossover venture into the squared circle, has built an unbeaten 4-0 boxing record. Increasing his level of competition with each appearance, the 24-year-old has defeated fellow internet personality AnEsonGib, former NBA star Nate Robinson, former ONE and Bellator welterweight titleholder Ben Askren, and former 170-pound UFC champion Woodley.
In his fifth match, Paul was slated to face undefeated professional boxer Tommy Fury on December 18. The bout would have represented the Cleveland native’s first matchup with a pro pugilist, and offered an opportunity for him to further legitimize his journey in the ring.
Following the revelation that Woodley will be getting an unlikely rematch with Paul, his fellow former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy gave his take on the development during an appearance on Submission Radio.
“The Outlaw,” who competed in the UFC between 2008 and 2012, admitted he was disappointed to see his countryman Fury drop out of the original match. However, he’s excited to see Woodley have the chance for redemption, and even suggested he’ll be rooting for the 39-year-old to secure a win and set up a trilogy with Paul.
“I’m a bit disappointed because I was looking forward to the Tommy Fury/Jake Paul fight to be honest. But I’m glad that Tyron’s getting his rematch. It’s a second opportunity he may never have got otherwise.
“I’m looking forward to seeing that. I hope he pulls the trigger this time. So, get one back, and then he can set up the trilogy fight… I think he’ll be a little bit more aggressive, certainly in the opening rounds. I think he’ll try and crack him with that shot, was it the fifth round he caught him and nearly put him through the ropes? If he’d have thrown a few more of those, then (with) those kind of shots, he might have got him out of there. I think that’s the smart way to go.”
Nevertheless, Hardy played down the feud, claiming he has no issue with Woodley and is happy to see him getting paid, something he doesn’t believe his “rap game” was capable of doing.
“I’m just indifferent. People misunderstand a lot of the time when they watch my breakdowns and stuff. I like to poke and prod people, especially when they’re reacting, but I don’t really care. Tyron can say what he likes about me. If he wants to fight, I’ll fight him. As long as he knows that’s the fact then I’m happy.
“I have no issue with Tyron, I hope he gets one back. I hope he gets one back and then he gets the trilogy match because, hey, why not? That stuff is gonna pay the bills, certainly more than his rap game is, let’s be honest. You know, why not swim around this pool a little bit longer and catch a few paychecks.”
Will you be supporting Tyron Woodley on December 18 like Dan Hardy?
