via www.fighter-magazine.com

UFC fighter Dan Hardy hasn't given his fans too much to positivity of late. Hardy has dropped four straight matches, beginning with his title fight defeat to George St. Pierre at UFC 111.

Emotional issues can play a factor inside the cage for a lot of fighters. As this was the case for Dan Hardy, the loss of his grandfather is what sent him on his downward spiral.

"Kind of all of a sudden, I was in a title shot situation. It felt a little bit early for me, but obviously you don't turn down an opportunity like that," explained Hardy. "I did a fourteen week training camp for it and in the build-up for it I lost my grandfather and that kind of really threw me out. I don't think I ever really kind of got myself on track after that. "

Hardy's stock rose quick in the UFC as he picked up wins in his first four appearances (including impressive victories over Mike Swick and Marcus Davis). All this in just over a year with the organization. As the saying goes, with success comes added pressure. For Hardy, it may have been too much, too soon.

"The first four fights was kind of a no-pressure situation. I was going in there and doing what I loved. And then, from the title fight, the pressure started to build and it kind of threw my rhythm out. I lost my swagger, I think," said Hardy.

Despite his recent slump, the UFC has given him another chance to make a comeback as he is set to face Duance Ludwig at UFC 146. At the age of twenty-nine, Hardy's career appears far from over.

"I'm trying to be a little philosophical about it, to be honest. And you know, it's just my journey, it's just the path I'm walking at the moment," Hardy commented.

"Fortunately, the UFC have given me another shot and I'm going to make the most of it. I'm going to make the most of it."

Source(s): Fightline.com