Dan Hardy to debut Full Reptile radio show

‘The Outlaw’ Dan Hardy entered the UFC in 2010 and went on a four-fight winning streak. Then he went on a four-fight losing streak, but the company believed in him, and the excitement he brings to every fight. Almost uniquely in the history of the promotion at the time, the welterweight was not released from his contract.

Then in 2012, he beat Duane Ludwig and Amir Sadollah, and all was good. However, Hardy was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The Mayo Clinic defines the genetic condition as, the presence of an extra, abnormal electrical pathway in the heart that leads to periods of a very fast heartbeat. In most cases, the episodes of fast heartbeats aren’t life-threatening, but serious heart problems can occur.”

The syndrome causes most patients to have heart palpitations and a rapid heartbeat. Hardy, however, is symptom-free, with a resting pulse rate of 42, and a maximum of 200. The Outlaw decided to forgo surgery, but commissions and his employer feared for his safety in the absence of surgery.

In 2014 he transitioned very ably into a color commentating role. And now Hardy has announced his latest venture – Full Reptile Radio kicks off Monday, August 20 on the Gimme Radio platform (1pmET). The show will have a little MMA and a lot of heady mix of classic and unsung recording artists.

Hardy recently spoke with Steve Latrell for UFC.com about what’s coming. Hardy has a lifelong love of music, and even recorded his own walkout track.

“One thing I learned fast is that heavy music got me too hyped up and aggressive,” explained Hardy. “Pantera was no longer an option! When I signed my UFC contract I wanted everyone to know that I’d be the one to carry the UK to a world title. That’s why I chose the song, ‘England Belongs to Me’. I used it for my first four fights in the Octagon, and then Cock Sparrer contacted me to see if I’d like to be involved in the re-recording of it! Never won a fight walking out to my own vocals though, so I took that as a sign and went back to the original version for my last fight in Nottingham.”

“I would be very specific when choosing training music, particularly when I was out running. I used to do a lot of visualization training when conditioning and I found that anchoring emotions to particular songs was a great way to switch my brain on at the necessary time. If I had just finished a good training session I would listen to my chosen entrance music to attach those feelings of confidence, positivity, fury, to the song. Then as I walked out and heard it in the arena my brain would be triggered and I would get that rush of favorable emotions.”

“I’ve always been closely connected to the music industry, from being sponsored by Earache Records to writing for music magazines. This is perfect for me though, as I love to share and talk about music, and am always looking for new music for my own playlists. As I travel I tend to meet other punks, hardcore kids and metal-heads, and find a lot of great stuff. Gimme Radio have offered me the perfect platform to really indulge in my love of music, and I’m looking forward to sharing my playlists with the world!”

“I’m hoping that listeners will appreciate a good balance of bands and sounds. Classic tracks that everyone loves, mixed in with some of the newer or unsigned bands that I meet on my travels. My distinguishing between genres isn’t great and I tend to like what I like, regardless of what section of the store then band is situated. … Attitude is important, as is intensity, and most of the tracks I choose will be from past, present or future training playlists. If the song doesn’t make me feel like charging across the battlefield at the enemy, it’s likely to not make it onto the playlist!”

5 albums Hardy would choose on a desert island.:
Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd
Vulgar Display of Power – Pantera
Aenima – Tool
Temples of Boom – Cypress Hill
A-Sides – Soundgarden