The 5 best UFC fighters from the UK

#2 Dan Hardy

Dan Hardy's fight with Georges St-Pierre was the first time a British fighter had fought for a UFC title

The history books will always tell you that Dan ‘The Outlaw’ Hardy was the first British fighter to receive a UFC title shot, and while he lost his title match in one-sided fashion to Georges St-Pierre, it’s hardly something to be ashamed about – GSP will probably go down as the best fighter ever and Hardy was able to last the distance with him. In retirement since 2012, it’s telling of Hardy’s skills that he’s still at #2 on this list.

The Nottingham native made his UFC debut in 2008 after an impressive run on the smaller circuit and was faced with a tough opponent in PRIDE veteran Akihiro Gono. Hardy did enough to outpoint the veteran, and with his red Mohawk and bandana hiding his face, he showed enough charisma to receive quite a push from the UFC brass, too. Impressive wins over Rory Markham and Marcus Davis followed, and a win over top contender Mike Swick was enough to net him a title shot in just his fifth UFC fight.

After Hardy’s loss to GSP, his career took somewhat of a tumble, with losses to top contenders Carlos Condit, Anthony Johnson and Chris Lytle following. But Hardy took some time off and then returned in 2012 with wins over Duane Ludwig and Amir Sadollah before his career was curtailed due to the discovery of a congenital heart defect. Today Hardy remains massively respected, this time as a commentator for the UFC’s European shows.