Dan Hardy last fought in September of 2012 after being sidelined with a heart condition, but the former title contender is still hoping to return to the Octagon, and is staying busy training, giving seminars, working as a color commentator, and even racing across the Atlantic in a yacht.
Here he breaks down Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 74 Charles Oliveira vs. Max Holloway main event for the UK’s Independent.
So early on in their careers this match up could be the beginning of another epic trilogy. As Frankie Edgar will tell you, the first bout is often a ‘get to know each other’ situation, and I can’t help but feel that these two will be side by side in the rankings for some time to come.
Holloway, a native of Waianae, Hawaii, has shown a mature and diverse striking game. His fluid combination attack finds its way through most opponents’ guards, breaking them down over time or stopping them outright. His confidence is growing in each outing, becoming reassured each time that his training is paying off. Currently riding a six-fight winning streak and having only heard the final bell once in those bouts, he seems to be finding his stride and settling into the stacked featherweight division.
His last loss was to ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor, and he is still the only fighter to take the new interim champion the distance. Since then he has smashed his way through every man the UFC have placed in his path, picking up three performance bonuses in the process. It’s clear that he belongs among the best in the division and his most recent win over Cub Swanson is proof of that. If he can defeat Oliveira in impressive fashion, he will solidify his position inside the top five and will have made a strong argument for a contender fight.
Charles Oliveira, currently sitting at #7, will be looking to leapfrog Holloway and put himself in amongst the big dogs in the division. Much like Holloway, Oliveira is young and tenacious, and since joining the UFC five years ago it’s been clear that he is on a trajectory to the top. Kicking things off with a 0.41 second arm bar of Darren Elkins, his ground game has become the most respected part of his game. Submitting three of his last four wins, all by some variation of choke, Holloway will know to stay away from a grappling exchange.
Every great fighter benefits from a closely matched rival. They help to bring the best out of each other, and I think this will be the case for many months if not years to come for Holloway and Oliveira. They are both going places and it just so happens that they will likely be in each other’s way for much of it.
