Nate Marquardt: “[Dan Hardy's] A Good B-Level Fighter”

This story originally appeared on the MMA website, 5thRound.com

Although middleweight Nate Marquardt has an impending UFC 109 scrap with Chael Sonnen right around the corner, the Jackson Submission-trained fighter took some time to speak with the Canadian Press about Georges St-Pierre’s upcoming UFC 111 opponent.

“In my opinion, [Dan Hardy's] a good B-level fighter and I think Georges is going to destroy [Hardy],” Mardquardt said of his teammate’s March 27th foe.

Marquardt and St-Pierre frequently train together to help each other prepare for their respective fights, so Marquardt’s perspective isn’t without bias.

Hardy owns a 23-6 professional record and earned his shot at the crown by defeating Mike Swick at UFC 105.  Although his unanimous decision over Swick was convincing, Marquardt doesn’t feel it warranted a 5Rounder with GSP inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

“He’s young, that’s the thing. He could be a great fighter one day. But he’s not there and he’s getting his shot way too early,” Mardquardt said of the premature opportunity.

Nobody is questioning Hardy’s striking ability, but that’s also one of St-Pierre’s biggest strengths, even though it hasn’t been on display too much of late. The “X-Factor” would be whether Hardy can avoid or withstand GSP’s superior wrestling and G’nP but we’ve all seen how others have fared,

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