Hardy has started process of getting cleared to fight

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, he was not released from his contract.

Then in 2012 he beat Duane Ludwig and Amir Sadollah. All was good – balance was restored to the universe.

Then Hardy was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a genetic condition that the Mayo Clinic defines 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.

Hardy, now 34, plus Matt Hughes, Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Neil Magny took part on Thursday in the UFC Fight Night 93 fan Q&A session in Hamburg, Germany, and Hardy said he is still trying to fight.

I’m getting old as well, said Hardy, as transcribed by Steven Marrocco and Abbey Subhan for MMAjunkie. I have actually started the process of getting cleared now. I’m going to have to see where the sport is. My main focus in commentary and analysis now; I love this job.

I love being able to immerse myself in a fight, pull it apart, and really focus on two fighters individually and I don’t have to put myself in the equation.

These guys will tell you, when you’re training for a fight yourself, you look at your opponent, and you look at yourself, and you can never remove yourself from that equation. Whereas when I take a step back, I can just enjoy the beauty of mixed martial arts for what it is. While it’s disappointing for me not to be fighting, it’s so nice to be removed from it so I can be a fan of it.

Dan Hardy has a vast number of fans among the hardcore fanbase. It does not appear to be very likely that Hardy will fight again, but it appears very much that he has found work in the MMA space for a post-fight career.

That’s pretty awesome.