UFC 111: Dan Hardy Bypasses Georges St. Pierre

Yes. We were watching the same fight tonight, and yes, as I kept predicting, Georges St. Pierre won. But what about that man Dan Hardy?

I may not have given much thought to the skills of Dan "the Outlaw" Hardy, although I am 100% impressed by his strength and fortitude right now.

Oddly enough, had Dan Hardy walked up to Georges in the beginning seconds of their fight tonight and knocked him out, I would in no way be as blown away by his determination and pure grit as I am after his five round loss by decision to GSP.

Not much separates the two men in the way of stature or weight, but Dan is much closer to being a force in the Welterweight division now than Georges was when he first met Matt Hughes in the octagon the first time.

Way back then, Georges was pretty much having his way with his idol and putting moves on Hughes that no one else could get away with on the champion. I honestly thought Georges would win as Matt applied an arm bar with one just one second to the bell.

Never have I been as surprised as when Georges tapped out at the bell!

Never that is until tonight when, in two similar instances Dan Hardy in apparently unsurvivable arm holds did not tap out. And low and behold he survived!

Plus a greater wonder, Dan Hardy still has the use of both arms!

How he withstood the pain of the torque and wrenching forces which Georges applied to each arm (in different instances), I do not know. How horrible those holds appeared on TV, one can only imagine the shock and pain Hardy endured for those untold seconds.

Yet withstand them he did and still continued on to test Georges' strength and skill every minute of the twenty five in the five championshp rounds. What a competitor!

Now call me crazy, (you know that you or someone else will), but I think Dan Hardy should be the top man in the Welterweight division and Georges should go on to bigger and better things in either MMA or trying out for the Olympics in 2012.

No one else in the Welter Weight division in the UFC offers anything to Georges that he hasn't seen or done before. Unless Jake Shields or Chael Sonnen decide to go down to Georges' weight to challenge him, any fight would be a been there done that anticlimactic win for GSP, no doubt in my mind.

From watching Jon Fitch fight with Ben Saunders tonight, I don't think he could handle Dan Hardy. I am sure that if Dana sees much interest, a fight with Fitch could be next up for Hardy, and I would love to see it. From watching Hardy's striking and grappling skills I think he could take Fitch, Koschek, or Thiago Alves and be victorious.

I have not been this amped up about a Welter Weight since I suggested (after his loss to Georges), that Jon Fitch go up to 185 and fight Anderson Silva!

Ring rust or Georges becoming more merciful to opponents he grows to respect as he is fighting with them may explain why Hardy survived relatively unscathed. He certainly did give Georges a good go for the money, thus earning the champion's respect.

As everyone knows, where Georges goes, Grandma soon follows, and  Georges certainly appeared to be impressed by the Outlaw tonight.

Aye, aye Mr. Hardy! And may God bless you, Lad!