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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=194093" target="_blank">
Dan Hardy hits back at Bernard "Soapy" Hopkins
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=194093" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=103&q=75&x=-3&y=2&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=CD7FD8DA-1D09-6BFC-E54C7793BE762930.jpg" /></a>
<strong class="ArticleSource">[thesun.co.uk]</strong>
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<p>DAN HARDY has hit back at Bernard Hopkins' claim that mixed martial arts is nothing more than 'entertainment pornography'.<br />
Boxing legend Hopkins, 44, said he would never pay to see an MMA bout and rubbished claims it could replace boxing as the world's No1 combat sport.
He said: "I'm not buying a ticket to watch two grown men with panties on, sweating, with nuts in their face. It's a porno — it's an entertainment porno."
However, B-Hop's comments have left UFC star Dan Hardy fuming.
The 27-year-old has carved an impressive reputation in the UFC and is now regarded as Britain's No1 MMA fighter.
But he is outraged by the Executioner's derisory comments and insists the veteran is scared the lack of top talent in boxing will see more people switch from the sweet science to MMA.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport, Hardy roared: "Hopkins is allowed his opinion but I don't think this is what he really thinks.
"He knows that MMA is a tough sport and that the people involved are professional athletes.
"I remember him talking very well of Randy Couture a couple of years ago after watching Randy train.
"I get the feeling Hopkins lashed out at the UFC and MMA like he did because he knows nobody under the age of 35 cares about boxing any more.
"It must be hard to accept for people of his age, he has dedicated his life to a sport and now it is being eclipsed by something more exciting — the UFC.
"A large percentage of UFC fans are the people that used to buy boxing pay-per-views, but they now opt for the UFC instead.
"It's a difficult pill to swallow, I'm sure, but that's the reality of the situation and taking little digs at the UFC and MMA fans won't change this.
"It seems Hopkins has a tendency to speak before thinking, what with his racist comment before his fight with Joe Calzaghe fight, and now his homophobic remark."
Hardy also rubbished the American's allegation that most MMA fans have chains and masks in their closets and offered to settle the score with him face-to-face.
The Outlaw blasted: "Insinuating that UFC fans must have chains and masks in their closets is just ridiculous.
"If I remember correctly, Hopkins enters the ring wearing a gimp mask, right?
"I think most MMA fans will give his criticism the contempt it deserves, but Hopkins is welcome to come and have a go if he doesn't take UFC fighters seriously.
"I'll take that fight and would promise not to wear panties and to keep my nuts off his face."
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