UFC Fight Night 147: 10 memorable moments from the UFC's previous shows in the UK

#6: Hardy wins his title shot – UFC 105 – 11/14/2009

Dan Hardy captured a UFC title shot by beating Mike Swick in Manchester

November 2009’s UFC 105 felt like a watershed moment for MMA in the UK; the show was the first following the successful UK vs. USA season of The Ultimate Fighter, and new UK-based fighters like Ross Pearson, Nick Osipczak and Andre Winner made their post-TUF debuts here, winning their fights in impressive fashion.

The night’s biggest winner, though, was Dan Hardy. Initially pegged to face Dong Hyun Kim, when the Korean picked up an injury, top contender Mike Swick stepped in to replace him – meaning the winner of the fight would be in line for a shot at UFC Welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. Suddenly, the stakes were incredibly high for ‘The Outlaw’, who came into the fight as an underdog despite being 3-0 in the UFC.

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When it came to crunch time though, Hardy delivered in spades. Swick was stunned by a left hand from ‘The Outlaw’ in an early exchange and never really recovered, and the Nottingham-based fighter comfortably outpointed the American to become the first fighter from the UK to challenge for a UFC title. On a big night for UK MMA, this was the clear high point.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Shiven Sachdeva