If you were in or around UFC 204 last week, you would have seen a very lean-looking Dan Hardy.The British fighter has been sidelined since 2012 with a cardiac syndrome called Wolff-Parkinson-White that affects the electrical system of the heart and saw him removed from a scheduled fight with Matt Brown.Ever since, Hardy has been trying to get clearance to get back in the Octagon, and it sounds like he could be closer than ever to a return."It's moving along, and that's all I can say at the moment," Hardy told SiriusXM . "It's not really something I can really shed any light on. I'm in contact with a cardiologist who's doing all sorts of tests for me, and it's really all down to what he says and what he recommends.[tweet url="https://twitter.com/danhardymma/status/783760607887712256" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]"Obviously, I know what my options are now with the UFC, and I know that I have to broaden those options as far as competing again. I don't know, though. I'm in no real rush at the moment, and the UFC are keeping me really busy with all the analytical work that I'm doing. It's been a crazy 2016, so let's see where 2017 goes. I would be open to a fight next year if I can get the clearance that I need."Hardy then explained his condition further and suggested that his case of Wolff-Parkinson-White wasn't like many others."It's something you're born with," Hardy said. "About one in every 3,000 people have it from what I understand. It's fairly common, and most people don't ever know they've got it. A lot of people have a slightly different situation to me."I have my regular heartbeat and then a secondary heartbeat that's fairly consistent, whereas other people that generally have complications have a group of cells that just beat sporadically and that's what can cause cardiac arrest."I'm also a lot further along in my life, and I've been asymptomatic for my whole life and never had a single problem. I've pushed myself more than anybody could, so I don't feel like there's anything wrong and I don't think tinkering with it is a good idea. If I can get clearance and the doctor can talk some sense into the doctors in the U.S., then I will be cleared to fight."The Brit has been offered corrective surgery, but it comes with no guarantees. Unsurprisingly, Hardy isn't willing to play the odds with a condition that has never given him any grief."I'm still set on not having the surgery, because I don't feel like it's necessary," Hardy said. "I've trusted my instincts on that one and the people that I've spoken to. We will see what the options are once I've done tests and they are taking place soon."