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'If you don't want to fight, you don't belong here' - Hardy

ESPN staff
September 18, 2010
Dan Hardy wants rid of fake fighters

Dan Hardy has told anybody who does not want to fight to get out of the UFC because they do not belong in the sport of MMA.

Hardy has joined a growing number of MMA stars who are concerned with a new generation of fighter that comes to the Octagon to point-score, not fight. BJ Penn expressed his concerns before UFC 118, and then Hardy's frustrations were raised directly after that event, following a painfully dour fight between Andre Winner and Nik Lentz.

Cole Miller, triumphant over Ross Pearson at UFN 22, also challenged the UFC roster to put on a show on fight night, and Hardy insists he cannot understand how fighters can do the job if they do not enjoy a tear-up. He reiterates that he has no problems with wrestlers who come to inflict damage, but he has a real problem with anyone who damages the sport's image.

"If you don't enjoy fighting, you should be a coach or whatever," he told ESPN.

"The thing with this sport is, if you don't genuinely enjoy doing it, you don't belong in the sport. That's all there is to it.

"You've got to enjoy winning, you've got to enjoy trading punches and pushing the pace. I don't understand how somebody could get up every morning for training if they don't enjoy it. That makes no sense to me.

"My opinion is wrestlers need to fight, not just use their wrestling to stall."

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