Issue 016
August 2006
Dan Hardy, a cover star of Fighters Only, is one of the UK’s top welterweight fighters. Known by his fans for his all-action style, he brings plenty of intensity to the ring whenever he fights and is a former CageWarriors welterweight title holder.
Describe your fighting style in five words or less.
Technically aggressive face breaking
If you weren’t a fighter, what would your dream job be?
I’d be an ice hockey player so I can smash into people and still break faces.
What is the strangest fan email you’ve ever received?
I got a strange message from a guy I met at a show that said, “Remember me? I was the guy with the relatively normal ears.” That had me laughing for ages!
How many friends have you got on your MySpace profile?
I’ve only got 86 at the moment, hopefully I should have some more soon! (www.myspace.com/danhardy82)
What kind of tunes do you rock on your Ipod/ CD Player?
Where do I start! I’m back on my New York hardcore at the moment. Bands like Sick Of It All, Madball, Terror and Sworn Enemy but I’ve also just put Johnny Cash and Busta Rhymes’ new one on there.
And what kind of tunes do you blast with you’re cruising with your windows down?
It depends on the mood I’m in, if I’m on my way to training then something heavy and angry like Vision or Disorder or Hatebreed, but other times when I’m calm then something like Incubus.
Your favourite band invites you on stage to sing a song of your choice- who are they and what would it be?
That’s a difficult one! Hmmm.... Maybe ‘Drag the waters’ by Pantera or ‘Some came running’ by Bane, I could go pretty crazy to those!
What do you do when your not punching people in the face?
Well, I like to practice punching people in the face! I watch a lot of films, design tattoos for myself, work and spend a lot of time with my girlfriend Heather.
Where is your favourite place in the world and why?
There is a Buddhist temple in the north of China that is the
most peaceful place I’ve been, I spent a lot of time sitting in
there a few years ago. I also love a water park in Florida called Typhoon Lagoon, its a cool place to just take some time out and have a laugh.
Tell us a fact about yourself that no one else knows.
Erm... I used to be the fat kid at school! I’ve just fought at 73kgs and I was heavier than that when I was 12!
If you were locked in a cabin with four other people (living or dead) with no way of escape, who would you choose as your companions and why, and when you ran out of food, who would you eat first?
Peter Kay for entertainment, Frank Shamrock for a good training partner, the Dalai Lama for good conversation and anyone out of the Big Brother house for the first meal because they are all annoying as hell!
You just won the world championship title in your weight division- describe your ultimate after-party.
I’d fly everyone I know to Florida and hire out a water park, there would be stacks of pizza and cookies and good music playing and free tattoos for everyone!
What is the best fight you’ve ever seen, a: live and b: on TV?
Live - Anderson Silva vs. Tony Fryklund (what an elbow!). On T.V. - Tito Ortiz vs. Vitor Belfort was awesome.
You’ve got a bottomless pot of money and the pick of any fighter in the world- what fight would you match make and why?
Duane ‘Bang’ Ludwig vs. Jens Pulver or maybe Wanderlei Silva vs. Chuck Liddell.
What the best thing that’s happened to you since being a fighter?
Winning the CageWarriors welterweight belt
Of all the professional fighters you’ve met, who stands out the most? (Good or bad)
Butterbean is a really cool guy; I was surprised at how little he ate for such a big guy!
What kind of goodies do you blow your wages on?
To be honest, most of my money goes on travelling. I like going places to train, and meeting new people. Material possessions can be taken away from you but experiences can’t.
If you could choose anyone at all, living or dead, what celebrity or well-known person would you have a coffee/beer with?
Miyamoto Musashi, I’d like to see what he’s got to say, with him being a real badass samurai I’m sure he’d have some stories.
You’re strapped into a chair ‘Clockwork Orange’ style and forced to watch the same movie over and over. Which one would it be?
It would have to be something funny like ‘Wayne’s World’ or maybe ‘Team America’.
What is your favourite quote?
The most recent one I heard that stayed with me is ‘Winners never quit and quitters never win.’
When you are retired, how do you want to be remembered?
As a hardcore, never say die fighter that always gave 100% in everything he did.
