UFC legend Dan Hardy has claimed that Tyron Woodley didn't fancy squaring up in the boxing ring - despite both men being sent a contract for a fight last year.
Hardy and Woodley were eyeing up a bout early last year, shortly after the former UFC welterweight champion had been knocked out in his rematch with Jake Paul. Contracts were sent out for the pair to meet at Wembley Arena, but the fight never materialised as deals were left unsigned.
Hardy instead went on to agree to a bout with Diego Sanchez, another former UFC star, on the undercard of Ricky Hatton's comeback fight with Marco Antonio Barrera in Manchester. However, that event was moved and taken over by Sky Sports, who opted to keep the undercard full of boxers, removing celebrity match-ups including Hardy's and rapper Casper Walsh from Versatile.
"I'll never, ever, ever say no to one more," Hardy said of a return to competition during an exclusive chat with Mirror Fighting at Cage Warriors in Dublin this weekend. "If the right opportunity comes in MMA, boxing, kickboxing, then I would definitely take it. I had that fight on the Hatton undercard lined up but that was cancelled.
"Sky Sports took over and took the non-boxers off the card, but we might still get something going, who knows? Maybe me and Woodley again. He didn't want to take it. He had the contract, but I saw him doing some work for the PFL [with whom Hardy is an analyst], I might see him at the PFL at some point."
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Hardy was in Dublin to celebrate the final night of his close friend and British MMA legend Jim Wallhead's career. The Leicestershire native faced Rhys McKee for the undisputed welterweight title, ultimately retiring from the bout and the sport on his stool after four brutal one-sided rounds.
"It was a special night," Hardy said moments after conducting rare post-fight interviews in the cage with the two fighters. "Rhys McKee did so well defending his belt here and unifying the belts with Jimmy Wallhead retiring as well. It's bittersweet with Jimmy because he was on the way out of his career while Rhys is just beginning the second stage of his career.
"I wanted to know what both of them had to say for themselves afterwards. I'd been there for the majority of Jimmy's career and first of all I wanted to look him in the eyes and make sure he was alright, make sure he was okay. I wanted to remind him what he's done and what he's given to the sport. I know that if he hears that from me he knows that I'm talking truths because I've been there."
