Recently the news broke that Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy will return to fighting as he enters the boxing world. Taking on another UFC Legend and Hall of Famer, Diego “The Nightmare” Sanchez, in an exhibition bout. After nearly ten years away, Hardy’s return will take place Thursday, July 2nd. It will be part of the undercard on the legendary Ricky Hatton vs Marco Antonio Barrera card.
The Purse
Recently on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Hardy claimed his upcoming fight purse trumps all his UFC ones by far. Stating, “You could add all my paychecks together from the UFC, and I’m still making more doing this”. He continued to elaborate, saying, what he was being “offered for MMA was pitiful”. Then further, “bare-knuckle was three times what we were being offered for exhibition boxing”.
It’s no wonder that many MMA fighters express concerns about their current contacts and leave for pastures new. Recently we have seen several former UFC and MMA fighters turn to box and bare-knuckle due to the lucrative fight purses. Frank Mir and Mike Perry, among others. In recent years, fighters have left the caged walls in favour of the ropes.
Fighter Pay
Hardy has been itching to return for ages after his long hiatus. Going on record as saying he was looking for a fight multiple times. His diagnosis of Wolff-Parkinson-White, a heart condition that causes the heart to beat abnormally fast at times, forced him into early retirement. While working as a commentator and analyst, Dan campaigned for an in-ring return since being cleared. Now 39-years-old Dan has his wish.
With his career-high purse, “The Outlaw” explained what the money meant for him. “We open up our own gyms and keep this sport moving forward because the skinsuits at the top aren’t going to do it. They’re going to keep lining their pockets”. Dan wants to make changes and provide bigger paydays throughout MMA. With Jake Paul being one of the biggest advocates for higher fighter pay, something must be a miss when it takes a social media star turned boxer to bring the topic the attention it deserves.
New Horizons
Now earning what he feels is fair. Hardy might become an advocate and encourages others to join him in fighting elsewhere for bigger checks. With his eyes already on Nate Diaz’s situation. Saying, “I know he’s making decent money with the UFC”. “Imagine what he’d be worth in a couple of fights outside the UFC. It’s crazy”.
With Francis Ngannou wanting to take on Tyson Fury, these types of exhibition fights really would open many doors. A pioneer for British MMA, Dan now looks to help fighters maximise their worth, and taking this fight shows just how possible that is.
Make sure you tune in to “The Outlaws” in-ring return. Thursday, July 2nd, headlined by two boxing legends, the card and fight will be sure to deliver fireworks. Are you happy to see Dan back?
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Featured image credits toEmbed from Getty Images
