The topic of when former UFC welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy will return to the Octagon is one that has been discussed for a while now.

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Hardy last competed in the UFC back in September of 2012 when he outpointed Amir Sadollah. He has since become an analyst and commentator for the promotion mainly because he was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White pattern.

However, he was cleared to compete last year and has teased a return multiple times. “The Outlaw” even recently claimed he would re-enter the United States Anti-Doping Agency testing pool in an effort to make his comeback.

“Right now what I’m going to do is get back in the USADA testing pool,” Hardy said in a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience (via MMA Junkie). “I have to be in the pool for four months. Once I’m in the pool for four months, then I have the option to fight if I choose to.

“… I’m going to do four months (in the pool), because I’ve never officially retired.”

So who would his ideal comeback opponent be? According to Hardy, Nate Diaz fits the bill.

“That is a good question. I daydream about that most days,” Hardy told Brett Okamoto recently. “Honestly, right now, the guy everyone wants to fight is Nate Diaz. That’s the ideal pick.”

Hardy even knows how he would win such a matchup.

“Oh, I’d eat his lead leg up until he starts falling onto my punches and then I knock him out. Simple.”

He’s not the only Diaz that Hardy is confident of beating. When asked in a rapid-fire who would win between him and Nick Diaz, Hardy claimed he’d be the victor and would knock the elder Diaz out.

Whether or not those fights happen in the future or not, it does appear that fans are closer to seeing a Hardy return than ever before.