UFC welterweight Dan Hardy opens up like never before in this interview with London Real. The fighter discusses life, philosophy and his career crossroads. Check it out.

In the video interview above, UFC welterweight Dan Hardy opens up about a number of topics, including the heart condition that took him out of his UFC on Fox 7 fight with Matt Brown. Check it out.

Props to FightHub TV for the clip.

Dan Hardy (pictured) has been removed from the UFC on Fox 7 card due to a heart condition. Photo by Josh Hedges for Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Another fighter from the UFC on Fox 7 card has been removed.

Dan Hardy was scheduled to face Matt Brown on April 20, but tests diagnosed the Englishman with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a type of cardiac arrhythmia that can lead to death in cases with excessive physical activity. The UFC announced Hardy’s removal late Thursday.

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), the governing body overseeing the event, informed the athlete that he would not be able to compete on the card due to the condition.

“Sorry guys, I couldn’t be more disappointed,” Hardy posted on Twitter. “Turns out I have a wolf heart and the California commission won’t clear me to fight.”

Hardy’s manager, Wad Alameddine, later provided a statement to AddictedMMA.com, in which he explained the situation in further detail.

The full, unedited statement is as follows:

“There’s been a lot of speculation online in the last 24 hours or so regarding Mr Hardy being forced out of his fight with Matt Brown next month, so I wanted to clarify the situation and provide some details.

“On Tuesday this week Dan went and had his medicals done as per normal, however because the fight is in California there was an EKG performed as well as the usual standard medicals done in every other states (normally; blood work, physical, MRI, etc).

“On Wednesday his EKG results came back showing an irregularity which has been diagnosed as Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome, which incidentally my wife also suffers from. However unlike my wife who has symptoms of the syndrome (including heart palpitations and tachycardia), Dan has never shown any symptoms of the syndrome and therefore it has come as a surprise to us all as this is something you are born with, rather than develop.

“Since this news, Dan has been back to hospital and had several tests run on him with a cardiologist, which included an Ultrasound as well as a high-level stress test to study his heart and how it responds to exercise. To say Dan has a very strong and healthy heart would be an understatement! The tests he did not only showed he has a phenomenal resting heart rate of 42bpm, but he also broke the record for the stress test he did which was held by a marathon runner for over a year.

“Sadly the commission will not clear him for the fight with Brown so the UFC were forced to draft in Jordan Mein as a replacement for Dan. It’s a great shame that the athletic commission simply take a reading from an EKG and decide whether he can or cannot fight, rather than looking at the evidence of the last 30 years of Dan’s life without a single symptom of the syndrome, the 10 year sports career he’s had, and the tests he’s also performed this week…….amongst other things.

“As you can imagine with everything (we felt) stacked in our favour, the “not cleared to fight” message we received was a very big shock, particularly after 10 years of competition and no issues. Anyway right now we’re talking to the UFC about what’s next and we’ll keep everyone updated as and when we have further information.”

The UFC quickly gave Brown a new opponent, young Canadian fighter Jordan Mein, who knocked out Dan Miller at UFC 158.

UFC on Fox 7 has been hampered by an assortment of injuries. An interesting note is that the replacements have been athletes who just competed at UFC 158.

• Darren Elkins replaced Clay Guida against Chad Mendes. He defeated Antonio Carvalho at UFC 158.

• Jordan Mein replaced Dan Hardy against Matt Brown. He defeated Dan Miller at UFC 158.

• T.J. Dillashaw replaced Francisco Rivera replaces Hugo Viana. He defeated Issei Tamura at UFC 158.

O inglês Dan Hardy é mais um a deixar o card do UFC on Fox 7: arritmia cardíaca é o motivo. Foto: UFC/Divulgação

Mais um lutador do card do UFC on Fox 7 precisou ser afastado. O inglês Dan Hardy enfrentaria Matt Brown dia 20 de abril em San Jose, Califórnia, mas exames diagnosticaram que o meio-médio sofre de Síndrome de Wolff-Parkinson-White, um tipo de arritmia cardíaca, que pode levar à morte em casos de esforço físico em excesso. A Comissão Atlética do Estado da Califórnia acabou afastando o atleta.

O Ultimate rapidamente anunciou o novo adversário de Matt Brown, que será o jovem canadense Jordan Mein, que nocauteou Dan Miller no UFC 158.

O evento UFC on Fox 7, com Ben Henderson vs Gilbert Melendez, tem sido atacado pela bruxa das lesões. O curioso é que as substituições estão sendo feitas sempre por atletas que acabaram de atuar no UFC 158, e que nocautearam seus oponentes. Acompanhe:

• Darren Elkins substitui Clay Guida contra Chad Mendes. Ele venceu Antonio Carvalho no UFC 158.

• Jordan Mein substitui Dan Hardy contra Matt Brown. Ele venceu Dan Miller no UFC 158.

• TJ Dillashaw substitui Francisco Rivera contra Hugo Wolverine. Ele venceu Issei Tamura no UFC 158.

Como você vê essa situação, amigo leitor? O atleta que vê seu oponente substituído se complica ou faz parte do jogo?

Cormier estreia no UFC nos pesados, mas Dana quer vê-lo entre os meio-pesados. Foto: Josh Hedges/Forza LLC via Getty Images

“Ele é incrível. Mas até 93kg eu acho que ele seria uma fera” disse White sobre Cormier, que já lutou mais próximo a esse peso quando ainda competia como wrestler.

Outro porém que reforça a intenção de White em baixar a categoria de Cormier é uma iminente batalha entre o mesmo e Cain Velasquez. Os dois treinam juntos e, com uma possível vitória de Daniel sobre Frank Mir no UFC on Fox 7, que ocorre em abril, as chances de os dois amigos se enfrentarem seriam grandes.

“Eu quero o Cormier aonde ele quiser estar. Só acho que isso pode chegar a um embate entre ele e Cain. Cormier hoje é treinador de wrestling de Velasquez, por isso acho que deve ir para 93kg” disse o presidente. “Ou quem sabe eles lutem. Eles podem dizer que são profissionais e se enfrentarem. Eu acho que não, mas quem sabe?”

E aí, leitor do GRACIEMAG.com, acha que Cormier deve continuar nos pesados, ou que ele poderia bater 93kg e ameaçar o reinado de Jon Jones? Opine conosco!

Photo by Josh Hedges/Forza LLC/Forza LLC via Getty Images

However congested the UFC light-heavyweight division may be right now, promotional president Dana White is still hoping to add another top-tier fighter to its ranks.

Daniel Cormier (10-1), a crossover to the UFC from the now-defunct Strikeforce, is that fighter.

“I want him wherever he wants to be,” White said last weekend in London. “I just think that’s where he’s going to end up. The relationship with Cain – he’s Cain’s wrestling coach. I think that’s what they’re going to have to do. They’re going to have him go to 205 (pounds).”

Another circumstance that could see White’s hopes of Cormier dropping a weight class is the imminent clash with Cain Velasquez. The two train together and, should Cormier outdo Frank Mir at UFC on Fox 7 next April, there would be a great likelihood of the two chums facing off.

“I think he’s awesome. But at 205, I think he’d be a beast,” White said.

What do you say, GRACIEMAG.com reader? Do you feel Cormier should stick around at heavyweight, or should he cut down to 205 to threaten Jon Jones’s rule? Share your thoughts with us!

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visit GRACIEMAG.com’s Choke MMA section

Dan Hardy terá seu desejo atendido. Foto:Josh Hedges/Zuffa LCC via Getty Images

E o Ultimate continua atendendo os pedidos de seus lutadores. Desta vez temos Dan Hardy, que vinha solicitando um embate com Matt Brown desde o ano passado, e finalmente teve o seu duelo marcado para o dia 20 de abril, no UFC on Fox 7, que ocorre na Califórnia. As informações são do ESPN.com.

Hardy havia revelado sua intenção de enfrentar Brown em um encontro com os fãs do UFC, em dezembro do ano passado. Na ocasião, o britânico disse estar impressionado com o retrospecto de Matt Brown. Após as declarações, Brown disse em sua conta no twitter que faria a luta, e que esperaria Hardy no UFC Japão, porém o embate terá que esperar um pouco mais.

Dan Hardy, que teve sua carreira em momento delicado após perder quatro vezes seguidas, entre 2010 e 2011, vem se recuperando no UFC e acumula duas vitórias consecutivas: um nocaute sobre Duane Ludwig no primeiro assalto, durante o UFC 146, e uma vitória por decisão unânime contra Amir Sadollah, na quinta edição do UFC on Fuel TV.

Já Matt Brown vem de quatro vitórias consecutivas no Ultimate, sendo sua última um nocaute sobre Mike Swick no segundo assalto, durante o UFC on Fox 5.

Dan Hardy vs Matt Brown é o terceiro embate confirmado do UFC on Fox 7, que terá  como luta principal a disputa de cinturão de peso leve, entre o atual campeão do UFC, Ben Henderson, colocando seu título em jogo contra o campeão do extinto Strikeforce, Gilbert Melendez. O outro combate confirmado é a batalha de pesados entre Daniel Cormier e Frank Mir.

Dan Hardy is granted his wish. (Photo byJosh Hedges/Zuffa LCC via Getty Images)

The Ultimate Fighting Championship continues to attend to the requests from its fighters. This time it’s Dan Hardy who benefits from the promotion’s kindness.

The English welterweight had been asking to face Matt Brown since last year, and he finally got his wish answered with a spot on the April 20 card for UFC on Fox 7 in California, the company announced late Tuesday.

Hardy (25-10) revealed his intention to fight Brown (16-11) during a UFC fan meeting in December of last year. Hardy said he was impressed with Brown’s background, and after hearing the statement, Brown announced via his Twitter account that he was game for the fight.

Hardy, whose career hung in the balance after four straight losses spanning from 2010 to 2011, is regaining his footing in the UFC. “The Outlaw” recently put together back-to-back wins — a first-round knockout over Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 and a unanimous decision over Amir Sadollah at UFC on Fuel TV 5.

Brown is riding a four-fight win streak in the UFC, the last of which was a second-round knockout over Mike Swick at UFC on Fox 5.

The Hardy-Brown matchup is the third fight confirmed for the UFC on Fox 7 card, which will be headlined by current lightweight champ Benson Henderson defending his strap against his counterpart Gilbert Melendez, the last Strikeforce champion. The other match-up confirmed is a heavyweight clash between Daniel Cormier and Frank Mir.

For more UFC and MMA coverage,
visit GRACIEMAG.com’s Choke MMA section

Nelson lands the winning punch. Photo: Donald Miralle/UFC.

It was a lively evening in Las Vegas. Of the 12 fights on the card at UFC 146 this Saturday, six ended with knockouts and three in submissions. That being the case, UFC president Dana White decided to contemplate what the public likes seeing most.

Two fighters earned the prize for best knockout: Roy Nelson’s swing for the fence on Dave Herman 51 seconds in; and Dan Hardy, who himself got a first-round knockout, on Duane Ludwig.

And two fighters benefited from the prize for best finish. On the main card, Stefan Struve sunk a sterling armbar from guard on Lavar Johnson, while Paul Sass took the bonus for his triangle on Jacob Volkmann.

Now “Fight of the Night” prize was awarded, perhaps because every bout on the card was sublime. Was White unable to make up his mind? Each bonus was worth an extra 70,000 dollars.

Nelson desfere o soco do nocaute. Foto: Donald Miralle UFC.

A noite foi de muita ação em Las Vegas. Nos 12 combates do UFC 146, neste sábado, seis terminaram com nocautes e três com finalização. Sendo assim, Dana White, presidente do UFC, decidiu contemplar o que o público mais gosta de assistir.

Dois lutadores receberam o prêmio pelo melhor nocaute. Foram eles Roy Nelson, que desferiu um petardo perfeito em Dave Herman aos 51s de combate, e Dan Hardy, que também nocauteou Duane Ludwig no assalto inicial.

Dois lutadores também foram agraciados com o prêmio de melhor finalização. No card principal, Stefan Struve aplicou um belo armlock da guarda contra Lavar Johnson, enquanto Paul Sass foi de triângulo em Jacob Volkmann.

Não houve prêmio para melhor luta, talvez até pelo fato de todas terem sido ótimas. Será que não conseguiram escolher? Cada premiação equivaleu a 70 mil dólares extras.

Heavyweight champion Junior "Cigano" dos Santos facing Frank Mir at the pre-UFC 146 press conference / UFC publicity photo

UFC 146 is going down this Saturday in Las Vegas, and there’s no shortage of expectations surrounding what’s about to transpire there. In the main event of the evening, heavyweight title-holding knockout artist Junior Cigano has a high-caliber Jiu-Jitsu specialist in Frank Mir challenging him for his strap.

With his crisp boxing, to nine out of ten experts the current champ is the odds-on favorite to keep his title—the GRACIEMAG.com team too is convinced another “Cigano” win is imminent.

The opinion is shared by Gilbert “Durinho” Burns, who has the utmost confidence in his friend and boxing coach Luiz Dórea, and his money is on a knockout from the reigning title holder.

“Cigano is a monster of an athlete, and he began his career in Jiu-Jitsu. Rodrigo Artilheiro was with me at the TUF Brazil house, and he mentioned how crazy his endurance is. He’s 28 years old, started at 22—he hasn’t been in MMA long but has already shown what he’s made of. I don’t think this one leaves the first round—Cigano drops him. But even if it does go longer, Cigano is in much better physical shape than Frank Mir,” opined Durinho, echoing statements made by Mir, to whom the longer the fight goes, the better.

If you were in Frank Mir’s place, what would you do? What would you do against a fighter with heavy hands and pinpoint accuracy?

“If I were Mir, I’d try to take him to the ground. I’d try to clinch, get the takedown. I’d try to be Rousimar “Toquinho” in there; I’d attack his heel, and always stay clear of Cigano’s hands. To beat a monster like that, you have to frenetically work at taking it to the ground. I’d work on improving my footwork, get good at faking punches and try capitalizing from the clinch. Training would have to be like this: getting the takedown, working on wrestling and going for the foot when on the ground,” said Gilbert in analysis.

The TUF Brazil participant doesn’t, however, feel Mir will be successful in his mission.

“I expect a first-round knockout from the Brazilian. Cigano’s punching is really crisp, he’s healthier for being younger, he has the confidence from being champion and he does an excellent job. All Cigano has to do is be calm and fight,” wagered the 2011 Jiu-Jitsu lightweight champion of the world.

“I think Frank Mir is going to mess up after the first punch lands. Being the champion, in my opinion Cigano doesn’t even need to press the action; he can just be calm, do his footwork and jab, because the knockout will surface,” said the black belt training partner of Vitor Belfort in closing.

Now what do you think, will the outcome of the fight be the one everyone is expecting? To you, can Frank Mir pull off a surprise? What would your strategy be?

UFC 146
MGM Arena, Las Vegas, USA
May 26, 2012

Junior Cigano vs Frank Mir
Cain Velasquez vs Antônio Pezão
Dave Herman vs Roy Nelson
Shane Del Rosario vs Stipe Miocic
Lavar Johnson vs Stefan Struve
Darren Elkins vs Diego Brandão
Edson Barboza vs Jamie Varner
Jason Miller vs C.B. Dollaway
Jacob Volkmann vs Paul Sass
Dan Hardy vs Duane Ludwig
Kyle Kingsbury vs Glover Teixeira
Mike Brown vs Daniel Pineda

O campeão Junior "Cigano" dos Santos diante de Frank Mir na conferência de imprensa do UFC 146. Foto: UFC/Divulgação.

O UFC 146 que rola neste sábado, em Las Vegas, vem cheio de expectativas. No combate principal da noite, o campeão dos pesados e nocauteador Junior Cigano encara o desafiante bom de Jiu-Jitsu Frank Mir.

Dono de um boxe afiadíssimo, o atual campeão é apontado por nove entre dez especialistas como o favorito para esta peleja – a equipe do GRACIEMAG.com também aposta em Cigano, aliás.

Se o chão de Cigano ainda é uma incógnita no UFC, para alguns faixas-pretas de Jiu-Jitsu isso não fará a menor diferença na luta. A verdade é que poucos estão acreditando no queixo de Frank Mir nessa luta.

É o que acha Gilbert “Durinho” Burns, que diz confiar plenamente no amigo e treinador Luiz Dórea e aposta em nocaute do atual campeão.

“O Cigano é um monstro de atleta, e começou a carreira no Jiu-Jitsu. O Rodrigo Artilheiro estava comigo na casa do TUF Brasil e comentou que ele tem um gás sinistro. Ele tem 28 anos, começou com 22, tem pouco tempo de MMA mas já mostrou o seu valor. Eu acho que não passa do primeiro round, o Cigano derruba, mas mesmo se passar as condições físicas do Cigano são bem melhores que a do Frank Mir”, opina Durinho, ecoando declarações de Mir, para quem quanto mais durasse a luta, melhor.

E se você estivesse no lugar do Frank Mir? O que faria contra um lutador de mão pesada e certeira?

“Se eu fosse o Mir, eu tentaria derrubar, tentaria o clinche, a queda. Eu tentaria ser um Rousimar Toquinho ali, atacar o calcanhar, e sempre ficar muito esperto com a mão do Cigano. Para ganhar de um monstro assim, só se você trabalhar freneticamente na movimentação para botar para baixo. Eu teria de melhorar minha movimentação de perna, fintar muito bem e tentar aproveitar o clinche. O treino teria de ser este, botar para quedar, trabalhar o wrestling e no chão embolar no pé”, analisa Gilbert.

O participante do TUF Brasil, no entanto, não acredita que Mir será bem-sucedido na dura missão.

“Minha expectativa é de nocaute no primeiro round para o brasileiro. O Cigano está com a mão muito afiada, tem mais saúde por ser mais novo, tem a confiança de ser o campeão e tem um jogo de perna muito bom, vai ser nocaute. Confio no treinador Luiz Dórea, que fez um excelente trabalho. Basta o Cigano entrar tranquilo para lutar”, aposta o campeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu peso leve em 2011.

“Acho que o Frank Mir vai errar depois de entrar o primeiro soco. Como campeão, na minha opinião o Cigano nem precisa buscar a luta, tem de ficar tranquilo, trabalhando seu jogo de perna, jabeando, porque o nocaute vai aparecer”, conclui o faixa-preta parceiro de Vitor Belfort.

E você, acha que o resultado dessa luta será o esperado também? Para você, Frank Mir pode surpreender? Qual seria sua estratégia?

UFC 146
MGM Arena, Las Vegas, Estados Unidos
26 de maio de 2012

Junior Cigano vs Frank Mir
Cain Velasquez vs Antônio Pezão
Dave Herman vs Roy Nelson
Shane Del Rosario vs Stipe Miocic
Lavar Johnson vs Stefan Struve
Darren Elkins vs Diego Brandão
Edson Barboza vs Jamie Varner
Jason Miller vs C.B. Dollaway
Jacob Volkmann vs Paul Sass
Dan Hardy vs Duane Ludwig
Kyle Kingsbury vs Glover Teixeira
Mike Brown vs Daniel Pineda