The 32-year-old Dutchman looks to make it three wins in a row Saturday night at UFC 92 in Las Vegas, where he meets UFC newcomer Mike (The Juggernaut) Wessel on the undercard of the light-heavyweight title fight between champion Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans.
Hardonk (7-4 including 3-2 in the UFC) arrived Friday in Las Vegas after some visa delays and learning that his original opponent Mark Burch had been replaced by Wessel.
“Apparently he played football,” Hardonk said. “He's a very physical guy but he just started training mixed martial arts a couple of years ago and because of his physicality, he's very successful. . . . He has a good record and now he's fighting in the UFC.”
Wessel, 31, is a six-foot 260-pounder who played defensive tackle for the San Diego Riptide of the Arena Football League. He has also served as assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Wessel trains in Little Rock along with Roli Delgado, who was on Season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter.
Wessel for his part is looking forward to the showdown and seems content to stand and bang judging from his interview with Fighters Only:
He is a very good kickboxer and has a ton of heart. He has gotten in some bad spots and fought his way out. That’s what has been most impressive to me, his heart. I think he is great at what he does and I am great at what I do. It will come down to who wants it most and makes the least amount of mistakes.
I like to stand and bang and so does he. I can go to ground and be just as comfortable so really it is all up in air. Either way its gonna be a war of two big guys - and everyone loves to watch that!
Wessel would be best served by taking the Kickboxer Hardonk to the ground and work his game from there, because a s much as he likes to bang, I'm thinking he would get banged in a stand-up scenario with Hardonk.
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