Marcus Davis Quells Feud With Dan Hardy, Targets Nate Diaz At UFC 118

By John Moody

As fans filed out of the Bell Centre after UFC 113 in Montreal, a very unexpected encounter between bitter rivals took place in the locker room of welterweight Marcus Davis (17-6).  He had just defeated Jonathan Goulet (22-11) to break a two fight losing skid and rejuvenate his career. Davis requested that UFC officials bring Dan Hardy into his locker room for a meeting.  UFC brass had previously kept these two fighters apart at all costs, given the rancor that existed stemming from their controversial June 2009 fight.  As die-hard MMA fans know, Hardy waged a crude psychological war of words in advance of his UFC 99 fight with Davis.  A smack talk battle that ultimately lured Davis into saying things he now regrets and feels adversely affected his performance.  Coupled with Davis losing the decision to Hardy in a fight he adamantly believes he won, the effects from this period of time lingered with the Irish Hand Grenade.

As Davis states, it was time for him to come to peace with this ordeal and do the right thing.

“I asked the UFC to go get him and bring him to my locker room cause I needed to talk to him to clear some things up.  Everybody was freaking out, but you know he came back and I said, ‘look I know you and I got problems and they are not resolved and not fixed, but I have to apologize for some things that I said, because that is out of character for me now, teaching my kids what it is to be a good person and a Christian and doing the right thing.  What I did was wrong, even though I was just trying to attack you.  Things that I said would upset your family and people that care about you and love you, just like the things you did to me, upset and hurt people that care about me.  So, I just did the same thing you did and I am apologizing for that.  I am sorry I did that.’  And I shook his hand for the first time.”

Davis said as they shook hands that Hardy responded in a more casual fashion.

“He (Hardy) said ‘hey don’t worry about it.  It is over and in the past.’ He said he didn’t think it was a big deal and thought it was funny.”

Davis achieved a cease-fire in what was one of the more bitter MMA feuds over the past year.  It does not, however, lessen Davis’ desire for a rematch with Hardy and reverse what he feels was a grossly unfair judging decision the first time around.

“I would like nothing better than to get another fight with Dan Hardy and he would welcome that too.”

With Davis coming off an impressive TKO win over Jonathan Goulet and at least partially exorcising the ghost of Dan Hardy, he is now squarely set on his return to the Boston Garden to fight Nate Diaz (12-5) at UFC 118.  It will be Davis’ second fight there since he fought, as a boxer, on the last boxing card ever at ‘The Garden’ knocking out Joe Larue in December of 1994.  Diaz, 12 years Davis’ junior at 25 years of age, will pose challenges with a unique boxing style and world class jiu jitsu game.

“I am not going to grapple with Nate Diaz, makes absolutely no sense. I got good anti jiu jitsu.  I have only been submitted one time. And so, I am not easy to submit, but why in the hell would I take a guy like him down and stay on top.”

Davis will lean on his professional boxing pedigree to keep this a standup affair, yet the Bangor Maine fighter will not be looking for a slugfest.

“I got to be able to get in, get off, and get out, not stand right in front of him.  Most guys, he (Diaz) comes forward, they get into that range where he is peppering them and then they try to get off and he just keeps coming forward and they just clinch with him.  He (Diaz) comes forward and they shoot.  I am not going to do either one of those, I am not going to grab, not going to take him down, I am going throw what I have to do, move my head, and get out of there.”

With Father Time ticking, Davis knows he must stop Nate Diaz to keep his career moving forward, preserve one more run at a title shot, and maybe a chance to scrum with his ‘pal’ Dan Hardy again.

“I am 37 years old and every fight in the UFC when you are this age and this point in your career is the most important fight.   But this one, I got a young kid who just inked a four-fight deal with the UFC, so they are looking to hold onto this kid.  A kid who won the Ultimate Fighter, and I am fighting in my backyard basically.  All these important factors are involved, so I am trying to do everything I can to be smart.”

—

What are your thoughts on Marcus Davis making peace with Dan Hardy?  How will he do against Nate Diaz at UFC 118?