• UFC 117

Fitch v Alves winner on collision course with Dan Hardy

ESPN staff
August 2, 2010
Thiago Alves is ready for Jon Fitch

The winner of Saturday's welterweight rematch between Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves will have a big impact on the future of Dan Hardy, admits UFC UK president Marshall Zelaznik.

Alves bids to avenge his 2006 loss to Fitch when the pair finally share a ring for a second time at UFC 117, in a bout that has been a long time in the making. A knee injury and a failed CAT scan have both led to Alves postponing the fight in the past, but now both men are ready for a significant battle at the top of the 170lb division.

Alves and Fitch are one of four of five fighters, including Hardy, who are battling to be considered a future contender to Georges St-Pierre's title, after the champion fights Josh Koscheck in December.

Hardy is yet to fight either man in his UFC career but, with an October bout against Carlos Condit to come, it would follow a logical path for the winner of Alves/Fitch to fight the winner of Hardy/Condit. Certainly a Hardy v Alves encounter would whet the appetite of MMA fans, and Zelaznik confesses that particular bout isn't far away.

"Thiago Alves is a bit tied up with Jon Fitch right now, but as I fan I can definitely see it happening and Alves could be in line for Hardy in his next couple of fights," Zelaznik told ESPN.co.uk.

"Right now Hardy fights Carlos Condit, and I think if you look at Carlos's wins, he ends things by stoppage. These are guys vying for a shot at the title, as are Alves and Fitch, so I can definitely see it playing out in the future."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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