10th Planet Watch – 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Van Nuys Blog

I had put these up but had to yank then down as per request of Dana White. They were ruining the UFC 111 Primetime show cliff hangers.

Today we made our way down to the NYC’s Radio City Music Hall for the UFC 111 press conference. This was an opportunity for Dana White and the combatants competing in the main events to address the media and the fans. Except for Shane Carwin. For whatever reason, he wasnt in attendence. After everybody spoke, the fans had an opportunity to take pictures and meet the fighters. It is my opinion, with this much support for MMA, New York needs to hurry up and legalize it already. It would bring tins of money to you’re state! How about Hardy’s first title defence being at Madison Square Gardens? That would be epic!

On a side note, the last episode of Primetime aired tonight. If you didn’t get a chance to peep it, it should be on the UFC’s website tomorrow or the next day. You’ll see why I’ve aquired the new nickname, “The Muscle.”

Hello gang, 10th Planet Burbank’s Alder Hampel checking in here. I arrived here today in Newark, NJ with Dan Hardy and striking coach, Steve Papp. We checked in with the UFC, and now the official countdown to UFC 111 begins! It’s been an amazing 2 weeks on the eastcoast, and I’d assume it’s only going to get crazier!

The trip began with my seminar in Christiansburg, VA at Henry’s TKD where I got to hang out with a who’s who of current and future 10th Planet affiliates. It’s always a pleasure to hang out with James, Jessica, Gwen and the rest of the gang. Good luck on the affiliation, I’m sure it’s coming soon. I expect to see some killers coming out if that school in the near future.

After leaving Christiansburg, I flew into New York’s JFK airport where I was picked up by Hardy and Papp. The gameplan was to finish up the last 3 weeks of Dan’s training camp in Saddle River, NJ before moving to Newark for the fight. We were also being followed by a camera crew 24/7 for the filming of the UFC’s Primetime show which airs on Spike T.V. The last of which will air Wednesday the 24th of March.

Dan’s reason for choosing to come out NJ early was to one to get acclimated to the time zone before the fight. The other reason was to come out and train with world famous strength and conditioning coach, Joe DeFranco. His reputation for creating absolute monsters and for pushing professional atheletes to their maximum potential is demonstrated in the documentary “Strong.”

Everything was set until rumors we were going to be training with former UFC welter weight champion, Matt Serra, started circulating. This was news to us, but when UFC president Dana White called, things changed. Mr. White had contacted Serra and a new gameplan was set into place. We were now going to split our time between NJ, and Long Island where GSP destroyer, Matt Serra, calls home.

For the last two weeks Hardy has been sharpening the blade into a razor. You haven’t seen a bigger, stronger, faster, slicker, more explosive and more focused Dan Hardy ever! It’s my professional unbiased opinion that come March 28th, we will see the welter weight championship belt change hands.

This Hardy blog has been pulled down. Please tune into UFC’s Primetime on Spike TV, tonight at 10pm

As everybody should know by now, Dan Hardy will be facing Georges St. Pierre for the welter weight title, March 27th. We need all the different Moons to band together for their own “Party Hardy” UFC 111 viewing parties. Dan would like all of the different teams together as they watch the first 10th Planet, UFC champion crowned.

Here’s how you do it. First you find a bar or one of your “best lads” houses to host such a ppv event. For instance, 10th Planet Burbank and HQ members will be attending a viewing party at “The Office” in Burbank. Secondly, you make a flyer for the event and post it all over your gym. Thirdly, call all your friends and family and let them know one of your team mate is going to be fighting for the championship, and that you’d like them to be a part of history in the making. Fourth, post on this thread where and when your crew is getting together.

Now for you brave types, here’s the next level. The “Dan Hardy Drinking Game”. Every time Dan lands a jab, you and your mates have to take a shot. I’m guessing most of you wont make it out of the first round.

Let’s all be a part of this historic event!

This is gonna be huge!

Dan Hardy is an English professional mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2004, Hardy fought in various promotions such as Cage Force and Cage Warriors before signing a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2008. He is the current Cage Warriors welterweight and light-welterweight champion. His nickname comes from the time he spent on the CageWarriors.com forums under the name “The Outlaw”. At the time, Hardy was looking for new training partners after his former coach and him could not see eye-to-eye. Hardy is currently ranked by Sherdog as the #4 welterweight fighter in the world. Hardy had been training in Tae Kwon Do since he was six years old. He moved on when taekwondo went down the Olympic route. He wanted real fights, so switched to Muay Thai instead. Hardy only became interested in Mixed Martial Arts after spending two months in China training with the Shaolin monks in 2002.[5] He then came back to England and competed in amateur MMA tournaments until his professional debut in 2004. Hardy is a member of Team Rough House alongside Paul Daley, Andre Winner and Dean Amasinger. Hardy has also spent time training at Xtreme Couture, Leicester Shootfighters and the Wildcard Boxing Gym.[5] He just received his Purple Belt in 10th planet jiu jitsu from Eddie Bravo. Hardy made his UFC debut at UFC 89, defeating Akihiro Gono via split decision. Gono was left swollen and bloody by several of Hardy’s left hooks. Gono rocked Hardy on more than one occasion. In the third round Gono pushed Hardy to the canvas and while there landed an illegal knee to the face of the downed fighter causing the fight to be stopped for a lengthy period. Hardy recovered and went on to win the split decision. The judges saw the bout 2928 (twice) for Hardy and 2928 for Gono. Dan Hardy beat Rory Markham at UFC 95 in the first round (1:09) by KO with a clean counter left hook. A follow-up shot on the mat brought in Kevin Mulhall to stop the fight. In his post-fight interview, Hardy retorted to Markham’s pre-fight accusation that he had weak hands by exclaiming to the ecstatic crowd, “No punching power? What do you have to say about that? Dan Hardy next defeated Marcus Davis via split decision at UFC 99 on June 13, 2009. The grudge between these two men began with the Irish-American Davis fighting in the UK against local fighters and defeating them all in spectacular fashion. Hardy stated that the UK was his home and he did not want Davis in it, building a fan base. It started to get personal when Hardy began openly insulting Davis calling him a fake Irishman and stating that Davis’ website “looked like a St. Patrick’s day gift shop blew up.” Afterwards, on an UK underground MMA website, Hardy encouraged fans to post photoshopped pictures of Davis in a homosexual fashion. The pictures upset Davis, causing him to confront Hardy at a UFC 99 press conference. The two continued to argue, but finally agreed to settle it in the cage. After a three round war, the judges at UFC 99 awarded the fight to Dan Hardy. Marcus Davis stormed out of the cage ignoring Hardy’s attempts to make peace. Davis told reporters that he wants a rematch with Hardy in Ireland or Boston. Hardy insists in his post-fight interview with Davis (and after the event to fans) that all of controversy was an effort to get Davis off his game-plan and nothing personal. On November 14, 2009 at UFC 105 he faced Mike Swick who replaced an injured Kim Dong-hyun.. At a press conference in Manchester Hardy and Swick discussed the winner of their fight getting a title shot against Georges St. Pierre. Hardy was the underdog coming into the fight, but managed to rock Swick early in the first round with a straight right hand which appeared to dent the American’s confidence. Swick appeared to be uncomfortable standing toe-to-toe with the Englishman and Hardy proceeded to rock him again in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Hardy won the fight by unanimous decision and booked his place as the number 1 contender for Georges St-Pierre’s Welterweight title. In being awarded the title shot, Hardy became the first British fighter in UFC history to receive one. UFC President Dana White confirmed at the post-fight press conference that the fight will most likely be held in Las Vegas. Dan stated in a post-fight interview with Sherdog.com that the next event in Las Vegas (UFC 109) in February was a little too early for him and he would much rather wait. Hardy is currently ranked the number 4 welterweight in the world by Sherdog.com. Hardy will fight Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight title on March 27, 2010 at UFC 111 which will take place in Newark, NJ.

They forgot to metion, Dan is also coached by 10th Planet Burbank’s, Alder Hampel 😉

It’s official, I’ll be going out to train with and coach Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy in preparation for his fight with George St. Pierre, March 27th. I have to admit, this maybe the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me. It’s a huge honor to have been asked to help Dan Hardy prepare for, quite possibly, the biggest fight of his career. I’m going to do everything in my power to see that Dan brings the belt back to the states, well, via Nottingham, U.K. at least.

I’ll be returning from teaching seminars two, soon to become 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu affiliates in Africa, just to fly right back out to New Jersey, where Dan is having his training camp. I’ll be out there for the last 3 weeks of his camp, until the fight. So, as you’re watching the fight on your color t.v., look for me in the background saying encouraging words and shaking my fist violently. I might even through up a little 10th Planet gang sign or 2. While I’m out in NJ, I’m going to try and keep a little vblog, to document the experience.

It’s been an amazing 2010 already, I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me the rest of the year. I’m very thankful for the 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu family, Eddie, and The Burbank Crew. I’ve received so much support from everyone, thanks to everybody for helping out!

For more info on Dan Hardy http://www.danhardymma.com/, http://twitter.com/danhardymma,

For Tickets to this fight, at UFC 111, click HERE