Dan Hardy scored the biggest win of his career with the narrowest of split decision victories over Marcus Davis at UFC 99.
The Outlaw produced a huge second round, dropping Davis with a huge Muay Thai knee, but it was anything but one-sided as Davis responded to floor Hardy in the third.
It was a tight decision. To say Davis disagreed is an understatement.
"I won the fight, I won 12 minutes of the fight and they gave it to him?" moaned Davis.
"You bet your ass I want a rematch right away. Let's do it in Ireland or Boston. He landed one elbow which cut me and they judge the whole fight on that?
"He dropped me with a knee, but I knocked him down with a hook. I also scored more takedowns, more submission attempts and outpowered him the whole fight.
"He came into my dressing room and I said 'I won'. He said 'it was close'. And he wouldn't argue. That took something I guess but he's not apologised for going too far with the talking. I won the fight."
After all the trash talk, the bout opened up in cagey fashion, Davis predictably going for the takedown and getting it before securing mount. The Irish Hand Grenade’s extra bulk was visible and he controlled Hardy, pounding away before Hardy returned to his feet to land a huge right late in the round.
It was time for Hardy to make his presence felt.
Hooking and jabbing superbly, Hardy lured Davis into him before suckering him with a huge Muay Thai knee that floored the veteran. Time for Hardy to look for the finish, pounding away and then sucking more wind out of Davis with another knee as the fight returned vertical.
One round apiece. Time for the decider.
Davis began well, unbalancing Hardy with a straight left before pounding away from half guard. Hardy has been putting in huge amounts of work with partner Jimmy Wallhead though, and he forced back to his feet with two minutes left before landing his own takedown.
An elbow then opened Davis’ nose up wide, and Hardy continued to pepper his foe until the death – taking a massive decision.
“Marcus is one of the toughest guys in this division,” Hardy said afterwards. “I respect Marcus, and people keep supporting him –we need him in The UFC.”