Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
In a match-up that's probably not going to showcase any displays of grappling wizardry, welterweight sluggers, Dan Hardy and Duane Ludwig, have agreed to face off in Las Vegas on May 26th at UFC 146, according to MMA Weekly, who confirmed the booking with UFC officials:
Dan Hardy will return to action at UFC 146 in May where he will face fellow striker Duane "Bang" Ludwig.
UFC officials confirmed verbal agreements are in place for the welterweight showdown.
This might be Hardy's last chance to keep his spot on the UFC roster, although it has appeared that he's been in that position in the past, only to keep his job after putting on exciting fights, even during his current four-fight losing streak, which is usually more than enough to get a fighter booted from the promotion. Hardy has revamped his training though, electing to leave his native England to prepare full-time in Las Vegas and taking an extended layoff after his loss to Chris Lytle last August to get fully focused before this next fight. Ludwig, a longtime veteran of the sport, seemed to be enjoying a career resurgence with back-to-back wins over young prospects, Nick Osipczak and Amir Sadollah, but like Hardy against Lytle, his weakness on the ground caught up to him against fellow journeyman, Josh Neer, and Ludwig ended up getting choked out back in January.
Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy (23-10)
L Chris Lytle (submission) - UFC on Versus 5
L Anthony Johnson (unam. decision) - UFN 23
L Carlos Condit (KO) - UFC 120
Duane "Bang" Ludwig (21-12)
L Josh Neer (technical submission) - UFC on FX 1
W Amir Sadollah (unam. decision) - UFC on Versus 5
W Nick Osipczak (split decision) - UFC 122
The UFC 146 card now includes:
-Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem - UFC heavyweight championship
-Evan Dunham vs. Edson Barboza
-Jason Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway
-Jacob Volkmann vs. Paul Sass
-Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig
0 recs | 81 comments
I hope Hardy has brushed up on his wrestling, because Ludwig will slaughter him on the feet.
Steve4192 - February 22, 2012
I thought the same thing. He will be shooting for takedowns late first round. And we will be calling him a hypocrite before the post fight pressed even starts
crinow - February 22, 2012
Chris Lytle was able to repeatedly blast Hardy with body shots
I wouldn’t be surprised if Ludwig did the same.
discoandherpes - February 22, 2012
This really says it all here
I hope he remembers to back his WAR!!!!!!
menckenstein - February 22, 2012
neer on this one
gxc - February 22, 2012
fail
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
damnit....i blame american judges!!!!!!!!!!
gxc - February 22, 2012
oh god lol, I'm dieing here
Cocytus - February 22, 2012
Good Fight!
Awesome fight, Going to be a good stand up war but there’s no question Ludwig is the better kick boxer and i see this one going similar to how Hardy vs Lytle went probably worse. Gonna be fun to tho.
Ghost Face Killer - February 22, 2012
good fight
Tats16 - February 22, 2012
Ludwig will pick him apart standing.
av1o3 - February 22, 2012
the gsp loss, so what.
the condit loss is understandable in hindsight. the johnson loss was not the end of the world.
but lytle? you almost get the feeling they should have let him go for his own good. a couple of wins on the regional circuit might help him get his confidence back.
having said that, this is a good fight for these two guys. it belongs on free tv though.
Clifford J - February 22, 2012
Ludwig takes this
In a WAR!
halitosis - February 22, 2012
and is JDS/Reem confirmed for this card?
Thought it was just rumor. Not necessarily untrue, but not confirmed
halitosis - February 22, 2012
Has there ever been a UFC fighter to lose 4 consecutive fights and still get another fight without having to go outside of the UFC first? I’m wondering why Dan Hardy is getting the treatment that I’m pretty sure no one else would.
Enrique de la Paz - February 22, 2012
I believe the answer is no, but there is another one coming up this weekend. Steve Cantwell also has four losses in a row, although he has also switched weight classes (his last fight)
Horselover Fat - February 22, 2012
Steve Cantwell
Time will only tell which one, if either…actually becomes the first to lose 5 straight in a single ‘run’
Chris Groves - February 22, 2012
tyson griffin and joe stevensen are in the mix, joe
hewsdaddy - February 22, 2012
He has a mohawk, tattoos and runs his mouth.
NoHo - February 22, 2012 via mobile
Tito Ortiz?
Krimson - February 22, 2012
Tito never lost four straight, he went five straight fights without a win but there was a draw included in there.
As said above, Cantwell and Hardy are the first and second fighters in UFC history to get another fight after four straight losses and Hardy will be the first to do so without changing weight class.
rabrown - February 23, 2012
And it was written: Dan Hardy's farcical journey through in the UFC shall end with a "Bang."
Machiel Van - February 22, 2012
Nice
Hart Thorson - February 22, 2012
so witty. ;) (’rec)
VeeisAnimated - February 22, 2012
You know, I was just thinking about this,
but Hardy actually was a deserving title contender at the time. He brought the thunder against Swick, who was a HIGHLY regarded contender at 170 at the time. Davis took him down a few times, but really did nothing with those takedowns, and it was Hardy who was landed the harder, cleaner shots. He KTFO Rory Markham, who himself was just coming off of a beautiful High Kick knockout win in his UFC debut. The only really questionable performance he had was against Gono, who I think outstruck Hardy.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
Yup, His wins looked good at the time, they just look pretty bad now given the path of the guys he beat.
Sweet Scientist - February 22, 2012
They say hindsight is 20/20,
but there’s also revisionist bias to take into account. I think that the standings of fighters at the time is more important than is often credited. If a fighter takes a nose dive after getting beat, I don’t think it should devalue the win as much as it seems to these days.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
I’ll admit that any ridicule thrown Hardy’s direction (of which I have thrown my fair share over the years) is merely a result of the UFC hyping him up too much, too soon. The man himself has a good attitude and is an entertaining fighter when not getting controlled by wrestlers.
Machiel Van - February 22, 2012
He certainly didn't turn out to be as good as he looked initially.
I wouldn’t sleep on Hardy, though. He does have power, and Bang has been known to get tagged before.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
Hardy only really blasted Markham
I can’t think of another KO in the UFC. He tagged Swick pretty hard if I remember correctly though.
discoandherpes - February 22, 2012
He tagged him and ran for the clinch
Hardy’s fight IQ is awful.
His other wins are the Swick beating, and contestable wins over Davis and Gono.
SSreporters - February 22, 2012
Dan was bombing on Swick.
He dropped Davis with a knee, as well.
ElliotMatheny - February 23, 2012
We shouldn't retrofit history
But if a guy was thought to be really good when he lost, then we find out he isn’t as good, we should take that into account.
discoandherpes - February 22, 2012
There needs to be a balance.
The fighter who first beats a guy on a big streak should always get the most credit.
ElliotMatheny - February 23, 2012
Should be a thoroughly enjoyable fight
Though probably Bang by being better at everything. As the guy who correctly predicted that Hardy would stay in the UFC after the Lytle loss, I’m going to go ahead and tell you all that he really will be gone if (when) he loses this one.
Dave Strummer - February 22, 2012
I could see them matching him with Thompson. Stephen? The Karate feller.
some schmuck in texas - February 22, 2012
Even for Dan Hardy
Four straight losses is a tough nut to crack.
Dave Strummer - February 22, 2012
Thank god!
Horselover Fat - February 22, 2012
Bang should pick Hardy apart. Ludwig by UD. Should be a fun fight.
Sweet Scientist - February 22, 2012
Really surprised
they’re not starting Hardy out from the bottom of the UFC barrel.
Someone like Mike Guymon or Paul Bradley.
I really don’t see how Hardy can win this one.
djfivenine - February 22, 2012
Guymon and Bradley are no longer in the UFC,
so they’d be below the bottom of the barrel.
Scott Haber - February 22, 2012
haha damn
ok, good to know. So I guess someone like Ludwig is already pretty low
djfivenine - February 22, 2012
Hardy is getting slept
And then he’ll be signed by StrikeForce
Damon O. - February 22, 2012
and get slept by Nate The Great
Earl Montclair - February 22, 2012
That's actually not a bad idea.
Strikeforce will pay him relatively well compared to other options, he has the whole Outlaw moniker that could get some casual interest, and Strikeforce is always dying to get some new blood. And it’s not difficult to get a title shot in SF, Nate can use some contenders once he wins the title.
Tim Bernier - February 22, 2012
If he loses send him to Strikeforce. It’s better than letting him end up in Bellator. Shut up, Bjorn, you know you’d sign him in a heartbeat.
Machiel Van - February 22, 2012
lol Hardy is fucked.
He knows it too, he said on Twitter that he didn’t want this fight following the Ludwig/Neer fight.
Rob Young - February 22, 2012 via mobile
Oh man, I feel bad for Hardy...
They are going to send emails to each other in the weeks leading up to the fight, promising to STAND ON THE BUD LIGHT LOGO AND BANG!!! but then come fight night Hardy is going to get flying triangled in 12 seconds.
Not Hauser - February 22, 2012 via mobile
lol bud lite logo
I was rewatching Diaz/Parisiyan last night, and the logo in the center of the mat was Nature’s Pure Nutritional.
some schmuck in texas - February 22, 2012
I miss pitbull energy drink, it had bite
couchjitsu - February 23, 2012 via mobile
I REALLY hope Ludwig wins this one
Chris Groves - February 22, 2012
Also, UFC 146 is shaping up to be a WAR of a card.
Chris Groves - February 22, 2012
F'ck it, just call it UFC 146: WAR!
Chris Groves - February 22, 2012
Jeez.
The brass are desperate to get Hardy a win, aren’t they? Can’t have him against anyone with grappling skills, of course. Please Goulet him, Duane.
gzl5000 - February 22, 2012
Well, Hardy's chin is nowhere near as ceramic as Goulet's,
but Bang has really figured out how to work his striking in MMA well. Hardy will have hell against Ludwig if he doesn’t start jabbing and using his length.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
Hardly anyone's chin is as fragile as Goulet's.
But yeah, I’m hoping Bang’s superior technique will prevail here, and emphatically so.
gzl5000 - February 22, 2012
I'll be rooting for Duane as well.
It’s hard for me to root against real 8- point strikers
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
Yup, or Smith him. Either one is fine by me.
Sweet Scientist - February 22, 2012
Ooh, I forgot about this one.
I choose this one.
gzl5000 - February 22, 2012
Shit, I need to watch this one.
He was about to crane kick that fool.
NickRingp4pGOAT - February 23, 2012
They could have him fight Matt Riddle if they wanted him to get a win.
Machiel Van - February 22, 2012
I think they need to keep some semblance of legitimacy.
As far as appearances go, anyway. I think this is about as far down the ladder they could go and as favorable as they could go style-wise without harming their product. And yes I know Duane is a better striker, but any sort of striker is better for Dan Hardy than a fighter with any wrestling.
gzl5000 - February 22, 2012
I’d pick Riddle’s wrestling against Hardy..and that’s not really say much at all.
RonSwanson - February 22, 2012
^this
PackMMA - February 22, 2012
Damn it all!
Last week there was a rumor going around that Hardy would face Phil Baroni, would have loved to see that fight. Hopefully, Ludwig sends Hardy packing and he ends up against Phil on a One FC card.
JasinTheBard - February 22, 2012
that fight would be funny.
Tats16 - February 22, 2012
I like Dan and hope he gets back on track...but...
I think Bang smokes him on the feet.
PackMMA - February 22, 2012
All yall are wrong
Those losses don’t mean nothin. Dan’s gonna bounce right back and run right through em. This is Hardy’s year
Full Mount - February 22, 2012
^^^psychobrit
Chris Groves - February 22, 2012
nah
mmaintellegence just made a comeback. I am 80% sure of this
Andy Anderson - February 22, 2012
So, you'll be right 8/12 times?
Chris Hall - February 22, 2012
60% of the time I am right every time
Andy Anderson - February 23, 2012
Dont sleep on hardy
I dont even really like hardy but i honestly think hardy bounces back this year and wins this in violent fashion
MmaMike89 - February 22, 2012
I must be one of the only few
Who thinks Dan Hardy is going to win this fight
i believe he is his own worst enemy….he knocked out Markham and rocked swick and since then has tried to hit every opponent with a left hook…. i think if he comes in with a Decent gameplan he will win this fight…Duane is a very technical striker but i don’t think he possesses enough power to KO or even TKO Hardy
Rosco_Patterson - February 22, 2012
Rory Markham has been knocked out by every opponent he's lost to (which I think is 7)
His chin is terrible.
And Paulo Thiago, whose boxing was considered rudimentary at the time, droped Swick clean.
Hardy’s best showing of power is when he dropped Marcus Davis with a knee.
SSreporters - February 22, 2012
I'm not debating those facts
what i mean by that is that because he KO Markham and Beat down Swick he kinda lost track and thought he could go in and left hook everyone easily, he fell in love with what he perceived as Knockout power
Rosco_Patterson - February 22, 2012
Called this fight the moment Ludwig lost to Neer
SSreporters - February 22, 2012
Ludwig has some good standup and was doing well in the standup against Neer before getting choked out. Hardy has a good left hook, but that’s pretty much his best weapon.
chrisbboy82 - February 22, 2012
Dan Hardy might shoot in and try to take Ludwig down.
discoandherpes - February 22, 2012
No hat tip?
Alright.
Dustin Luff - February 23, 2012
I think this is the swan song for Hardy's UFC career.
Storry - February 23, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Bloody Elbow to post a comment.