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'Chippendale' Marquardt 'had it coming' - Hardy

Don't miss next week's ESPN UFC Podcast for a full chat with Britain's Outlaw Dan Hardy

Dan Hardy, a long-term trash talk target of Nate Marquardt, has had his say on the American's testosterone scandal, telling him "it's all about hard work in the gym".

Hardy has found himself on the wrong end of Marquardt's tongue on more than one occasion, most notably when Marquardt claimed the Brit did not deserve his title shot against Georges St-Pierre.

Marquardt also told Hardy he "shouldn't complain and learn to defend [wrestling]" after Hardy criticised Nik Lentz's lay-and-pray tactics against Rough House team-mate Andre Winner.

The tables have turned on Marquardt though, who has been axed by the UFC "for good" according to Dana White after posting high levels of testosterone just hours before his scheduled fight with Rick Story. Marquardt claims he is undergoing Hormone Replacement Therapy, but Hardy raises similar questions to BJ Penn, who recently labelled the therapy "total BS" (bulls***).

"What is he, 31 or 32?" Hardy said to ESPN. "I don't want to kick a man when he's down but what's he doing needing testosterone therapy anyway at that age?

"I'm not that far behind him and I certainly don't need any!

"The thing that annoyed me is that he has tested positive for nandrolone in the past, people are aware of that, and now he's saying he needs Hormone Replacement. Maybe he wouldn't have needed Hormone Replacement if he hadn't been using something in the first place.

"On the bright side, he'll always have a job as a Chippendale."

Hardy admits he has always appreciated the talents of Marquardt, and found him to be a personable guy, which made the American's criticisms so much more difficult to understand.

"It's weird, I see him around occasionally - I saw him at the Fighter Summit in Vegas - and he always seems like a real quiet, nice, friendly guy," Hardy said.

"I don't know what the deal is. In the build-up to my GSP fight he made some comments, fair enough, he's GSP's coach and best friend. But he really had no place talking all the trash he did.

"He wasn't the guy getting in there and fighting me and unfortunately now it doesn't look like he is ever going to. I was looking forward to having a scrap with him at some point because he's another one who I think has got it coming.

"It's his battle to fight now. He's got some owning up to do and he's got to get himself back on track. There's nothing to say he can't get back on track and I hope he does because he's got a lot of talent.

"He needs to realise it's all about hard work in the gym."

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