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Hardy: Koscheck is my No.1 pick, not Riddle

ESPN staff
November 21, 2012
Dan Hardy is not sure he's heard of Matt Riddle © Getty Images
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Dan Hardy has revealed his No. 1 pick for a next opponent in the welterweight division, selecting perennial bad boy Josh Koscheck.

Hardy expects to return to action in March or April of 2013, but is unaware who his next rival will be after wins over Duane Ludwig and Amir Sadollah.

Koscheck is also desperate for an Octagon return after writing off the rest of the year, but it would be a surprise to see Hardy make the leap from Sadollah to a top talent like Koscheck. The Outlaw, though, is ready if called.

"There's a lot of talent in the division, so many good guys coming up, and obviously, guys that have been at the top that aren't maybe right near the top at the moment," Hardy said on Fuel TV.

"I'm open. There's a lot of good fighters, a lot fun fights. Maybe Koscheck on The Ultimate Fighter… if I had to choose."

One man Hardy has little interest in is Matt Riddle, who is coming off a win over England's John Maguire. Riddle called out Hardy for a second time, clearly attempting to use the Brit's name to boost his own profile.

That is not the type of business Hardy is in, and stylistically the matchup offers little to excite either. For those reasons, the Brit would rather look elsewhere.

"I'm not a matchmaker and that's not my job, but if I was to pick an opponent, [a fight with Riddle] wouldn't even come into my head, to be honest.

"I don't like looking at the guy, so obviously training for him for eight weeks would be tiring."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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