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UFC 143 winner Matt Brown holds Dan Hardy link

Dan Hardy is looking for a major bounce back after a disastrous 2011 in the UFC © Getty Images

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Matt Brown's path in the welterweight division may not be too distant from that of Dan Hardy's, after the Brit revealed he could have fought Brown at UFC 138, only to be frustrated by illness.

Brown posted a clinical victory at UFC 143 on Saturday, stopping Chris Cope in round two. Eight of his last nine fights have now stopped inside the distance - win or lose.

The American is a dangerous customer at 170lbs, possessing skills on the ground and in the stand-up, and he holds a previous win over Brit James Wilks.

That fight took place in England at UFC 105, and Hardy admits he could have met Brown on late notice at UFC 138. John Hathaway was forced to withdraw from the card, and Hardy was given the option seven days out from the event.

The Brit admits every part of his fighter's spirit wanted to take the fight, but having lost his last four he knew he needed time to re-adjust his game - plus he was affected by illness at the time of the event. As a result, the bout never happened, but he admits a clash with Brown is something that would excite him in the future.

"They wanted me to fight on the UK show but only gave me a week's notice," Hardy recently told ESPN. "They also offered me a fight in Japan as well [at UFC 144], but I know where I'm going now and I don't want the distraction of travelling to Japan for my return fight.

"When Hathaway pulled out of the fight I got offered it, but I'd been travelling a lot and I wasn't 100 per cent, so I'd have shown up in the first two minutes and gassed and then lay on the floor!

"I was tempted to take it just because I wanted to fight Matt Brown, that would have been an awesome fight. But you have to distinguish between the fighter mentality and the what's-good-for-me mentality. In my head I'd fight him right now, but now I need to start making smart decisions and listening to my manager."

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