lingzi
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Its not usual for fighters to hit the beach for a relaxing vacation after a
gruelling training camp and bout. Darrius Heyward-Bey Authentic Jersey . But
Dan (The Outlaw) Hardy isnt your usual fighter. “I was living in a hut on the
Amazon for two weeks,” Hardy said of his holiday choice this summer. “Completely
vegan diet. Meditating and just trying to find a bit of peace.” The 30-year-old
English welterweight with the mohawk said he found what he was looking for. “It
was just what I needed.” Hardy, who lives in Las Vegas these days, returns to
his Nottingham home when he takes on Amir Sadollah in the co-main event of a
televised UFC card Saturday. Dutch heavyweight Stefan (Skyscraper) Struve (28-5)
faces Stipe Miocic (9-0) in the main event at the Capital FM Arena. Hardy (24-10
with one no contest) left the bright lights of Las Vegas for Peru in the wake of
his May 26 knockout of Duane (Bang) Ludwig at UFC 146 before some 15,000
high-rollers and others at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. A week later, Hardy was
eating rice and beans in his hut at the Hummingbird Retreat Center near Iquitos,
listening to the birds in the jungle outside. “I got a lot of thinking time and
reading time,” Hardy said. “It was nice, it was peaceful.” He went with a friend
but they had their own huts, so they went their separate ways. Ironically, Hardy
found himself playing tourist guide in Las Vegas the week he got back when his
little sister came to visit. He did everything from walk the Strip to show her
the giant casinos that line it. “To be honest, the whole week I was thinking it
would be really nice to back in Peru now where theres peace and quiet and not
loads of drunk people throwing money around,” he recalled. “Vegas is an
interesting place. Im glad Ive had the opportunity to spend time here and
experience this culture but I dont fit in very well here.” No stranger to travel
—Hardy used the Internet to find a suitable place to train with Shaolin monks
in China in 2002—the fighter turned to his computer again to find his Amazon
retreat. “Its amazing what you can find on Google,” he said with a laugh. Hardy
wasnt missing much on his vacation, other than his fiancee. He doesnt drink or
party, so the bright lights arent much of a draw. “Being away from everything on
my own was the treat for myself that I needed really,” he explained. “The whole
fast-paced lifestyle around the buildup to the fight and interviews and fans and
everything, its a very intense atmosphere. Theres a lot going on, a lot to take
in. “So the thing I really felt that I needed was to be able to remove myself
from that and just kind of breathe easy for a little while. Just take in what
had happened and appreciate the work Id put in and the fact that it had paid
off. So when I came back, Id reassessed where I was at and I was ready to get
straight back to work. “I felt the best Ive ever felt when I got back because my
diet had been good and my weight stayed down.” Hardy, who can weigh in no more
than 171 to fight at welterweight, says he hasnt gone above 190 since the Ludwig
win. Often he can balloon to 210 within three or four weeks of a fight. Hardy
continues to train with Frank Mirs camp in Vegas. The one change he has made is
to add two 90-minute yoga sessions a week to maintain flexibility—and help
his mind and body recover. “I felt a little beat up after the last training
camp,” he said. “Two sessions a day, every day, every session beating me down
and wearing me down a little.” He says the yoga has helped his body recover. He
is sleeping better and has been injury-free in the leadup to Saturdays fight.
Hes cut back on animal protein and upped his intake of fruit and vegetables. “Im
finding my craving for cookies, which was my problem initially, has just gone. I
have no interest in it now,” he said. These days Hardy allows himself one treat
a week—sushi. The Ludwig win was sorely needed. While a popular fighter in
the UFC, Hardy had lost four straight—albeit to top fighters in champion
Georges St-Pierre, Carlos Condit, Anthony Johnson and Chris Lytle. Prior to that
he had won four straight to open his UFC account, fighting and talking his way
to the top of the 170-pound contenders ranks. As a result of the subsequent
losses, Hardy took a long look at his fight regimen and moved to Las Vegas
full-time last year to up the ante. The Brit is no stranger to Saturdays venue.
He can see it from his flat in Nottingham and used to go there most weeks during
hockey season to see friends on the Nottingham Panthers play. Hes also seen
concerts and boxing matches there although has never fought in it himself.
Sadollah, 32, has gone 5-3 since winning Season 7 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” A
former surgical technician, he had no pro fights before the reality TV show.
Sadollah bounced back from an August 2011 loss to Ludwig by winning a split
decision over Jorge Lopez in May. “I think its a good matchup for both of us,”
said Hardy. “We both come to fight and neither of us is scared to mix it up.
“Hes a tough guy, a very well-rounded guy. Hes very durable. You cant take him
lightly at any point in the fight because hes always got that ability to turn
the fight around.” Sadollahs willingness to trade blows was especially
attractive to Hardy in that he wants to put on a show for his hometown crowd.
While Hardy speaks of Sadollah with respect, he cant help but wonder why his
opponent opted to train with Ludwig in advance of the fight. “Im not sure how
that works for your confidence—working with someone thats just been knocked
out by your opponent,” he said. “But to each their own, I guess.” It marks
Hardys first fight in Nottingham since April 2008 when he beat Chad Reiner in
Cage Warriors action at a smaller venue. That was 10 fights ago. He has never
lost in his home town, winning titles on three different circuits there. “This
one obviously is going to be the icing on the cake for me when he hits the
canvas,” Hardy added. Away from the cage, Hardy likes music—he recorded a
special version of his one-time entrance song “England Belongs to Me” with the
band Cock Sparrer—reading, writing and art. His post-fighting plans include
going to university. In May, he received an animal welfare activism award from a
pet orphanage in Dallas for his work in rescuing and fostering cats. He has also
taken aim at the likes of Matt Hughes for the UFC Hall of Famers love for
recreational hunting. Matt Giordano Jersey . The former AC Milan
defender and Italian national team stalwart is to play at least 45 minutes of an
exhibition game Tuesday night against seven-time French League champion Lyon at
Saputo Stadium. Darrius Heyward-Bey Jersey . —Dan Quinn
birdied three of his first seven holes Sunday to pull ahead and then stretched
his lead on the back nine to earn a six-point victory over former NFL
quarterback Mark Rypien in the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe
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. Major League Soccers disciplinary committee issued the ruling for Berniers
“reckless challenge that endangered the safety of Toronto FC forward Ryan
Johnson.” Bernier was shown the yellow card after his aggressive challenge left
Johnson limping in the 94th minute of TFCs 3-0 victory last week at Montreal. Jim Otto Jersey . Cecil will have his hands
full, as the White Sox have won six in a row and Toronto has managed just two
runs over the first two games at U.S. Cellular Field. On Saturday the White Sox,
leaders in the American League Central by a full three games over Cleveland,
pitched their eighth shutout of the season as they handed Toronto a 2-0 setback.
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unproductive this year, registering just one tackle without any sacks on a team
desperate for a pass rushing presence.EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. —Adrian Peterson
says he is still working his way back toward feeling normal after left knee
surgery. The Vikings star running back spoke to reporters Wednesday about his
progress during minicamp, providing his familiar optimism on an afternoon
otherwise dominated by wide receiver Percy Harvins request for a trade. Peterson
says Harvin told hiim recently that hes cutting so well on his surgically
repaired left knee its hard to tell he was injured. Darren McFadden Limited Jersey. But Peterson
adds he knows his body is “just not there yet” at full recovery. Hes on track
for training camp, but how much he can do and whether the team will let him play
at the start of the regular season has yet to be determined. ’ ’ ’
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