Dan Hardy wants one more UFC fight but not against Mickey Gall or any other youngsters

STOCKHOLM – It’s been nearly five years since Dan Hardy competed inside the octagon, and whether or not he returns to the UFC is anybody’s guess.

One thing we do know is that Hardy (25-10-1 MMA, 6-4 UFC), a former welterweight title challenger, wants to come back. He told MMAjunkie in February he had paperwork that cleared him medically of previously undetected heart abnormality. At a UFC Fight Night 109 Q&A session with fans over the weekend, Hardy confirmed he has been cleared and that now the next phase is to get into the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency testing pool, a process he said he’s already started.

Hardy, 35, has found a second career as a TV analyst that he enjoys. And he admitted that if he comes back, the likelihood is his next fight would be his last. With that in mind, he has certain criteria that need to be met – the venue, the opponent, the timing, it all matters.

“I’m not interested in the belt or the rankings anymore. If I was stepping back in, it would be purely for the love of martial arts,” Hardy said. “I’m not interested in trying to knock out any contenders or anything like that. As fun as it would be to get the gold for the one time, I’m past the point of investing my life into the sport.”

As far as opponent goes, Hardy isn’t interested in fighting any “young, up-and-coming kids.” He said he wants a veteran fans are familiar with, somebody with “not less than 15 to 20 fights.”

Which means, even though he called out Hardy recently, Mickey Gall (4-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) is out of the question.

“I like his enthusiasm,” Hardy said. “He’s a young kid. He’s had four fights – he’s fought one MMA fighter, he’s fought an actor, he’s fought a journalist, and he’s fought a beginner. … If I’m stepping back in, I don’t get any excitement out of beating up a kid. I just don’t.”

Watch the videos above and below to hear more from Hardy.

And for more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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