"There is a little less attention on me, so I can focus a little better," Hardy (23-10 MMA, 4-4 UFC) told MMAjunkie.com Radio (
MMAjunkie.com Radio | MMAjunkie.com) of his fight with Duane "Bang" Ludwig (21-12 MMA, 4-3 UFC). "It was kind of a real quick rise up to the main card, but I'm the warm-up act on this one."
The welterweights meet May 26 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The night's pay-per-view main card is comprised solely of heavyweights.
For Hardy, a wave of attention that accompanied his fight with Georges St-Pierre at UFC 111 soon overwhelmed the British veteran. After a lopsided loss to the dominant welterweight champion two years ago, Hardy remained as popular as ever and continued to fight in high-profile bouts. But his performances didn't keep pace with his popularity, and three subsequent losses put his UFC career in danger.
Now, he's a little more selective about when he picks up the phone, and interviews no longer cut into training time.
"I've had to start saying no because I could do 10 interviews a day and still not interview with everybody, and it's always the same question," Hardy said. "It's, 'How are you feeling coming off four losses?'"
As you might imagine, Hardy isn't pleased. UFC executive Lorenzo Fertitta said Hardy wouldn't be cut from the promotion following his most recent loss – a submission defeat to Chris Lytle this past August – but that was hardly the type of concession he wanted.
Before his loss to St-Pierre, Hardy bested four consecutive UFC opponents and shot to the top of the welterweight world. Now he's trying to figure out a way back.
Just two just two months out from what could be his final chance to prove himself a commodity in the octagon, he's parted ways with UFC heavyweight Roy Nelson and is working with a band of new partners he calls the "Sin City Cartel." He might work with bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz's people one day, then light-heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson the next, and Vitor Belfort and Frank Mir the day after.
Hardy also has new coaches in boxing, jiu-jitsu and wrestling who keep track of his progress as he moves from place to place. So he's bouncing around – but with a support system of local and out-of-town fighters who want to change things up.
"With the cartels, they come together to agree on profits to try to keep the market where it is," Hardy said. "We're doing the same with the level of competition in the UFC. That's the plan. We're going to raise the competition so everybody has got to raise to what we're doing."
The world will be watching to see if Hardy can pull out of his funk. His warm-up act is televised as part of UFC 146's preliminary card, which airs live on FX in advance of the PPV main card.
Hardy said fans can expect to see strides in his admittedly weaker ground game along with improvements in his striking.
"Now, I've got a new team of guys around me that have really structured my whole camp," he said. "Robert Drysdale and Ricky Lundell are working on my grappling, which are two of the best guys in the world. I couldn't pick any two guys that would be better for me, so my grappling has definitely come along – definitely my takedown defense, as well. My striking, as well. I think people are going to see a lot of difference in that – a lot more dynamic, better footwork, better head movement.
"I'm planning on getting hit a lot less and getting taken down a lot less."
That certainly will come in handy against Ludwig, whose kickboxing resume is far longer and more decorated than his. Ludwig is also on the rebound after getting choked out in a recent fight with Josh Neer, so he's fighting the same downward pressure that's weighed on Hardy.
"It's going to be a good fight," Hardy said. "I'm looking forward to it. I've been a fan of his for a while. He's been in there with some of the best in the sport at 155 and 170. He's fought at a good level in kickboxing and muay Thai, as well as fought Ramon Dekkers, who is my all-time favorite muay Thai fighter, and that was a great fight.
"I know he's a tough guy. I know he's conditioned, and he works hard. He's training at altitude, so I know he's going to come in in great shape, and he wants a win."
Hardy plans to deny him that, of course. He knows both of them favor the striking aspect of the sport, so he won't be as worried about getting dominated on the mat. But he will have to look out for the punch or elbow that threatens to knock him out.
That's the type of publicity he can scarcely afford. It's also the type of show he loves, main event or otherwise.
"I cannot wait," Hardy said. "It's going to be a good one. We get on well, and I always enjoy watching his fights. Now I'm going to get in there and get one myself. It's going to be a good one. It's going to be fireworks, definitely."
For more on UFC 146, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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