Marcus Davis: Dan Hardy Got in My Head at UFC 99

Marcus Davis and Dan Hardy engaged in a long, drawn-out war of words prior to their fight at UFC 99 on Saturday, and Davis now says that verbal battle helped Hardy win their physical battle in the Octagon.

Jon Anik asked Davis on this week's MMA Live if he was in the wrong place mentally because of Hardy's trash talk, and Davis was blunt: "I hate to say it, but I think I was," Davis said. "I mean, normally when I'm standing in the corner, and I'm hopping around in the corner and getting ready to go out, the only thing that's on my mind is the game plan, what I've rehearsed with Mark DellaGrotte and the game plan. I was looking across the cage, I was looking at him and he was laughing and smiling at me and he was talking to his corner, then trying to look at me and laugh. I was filled with nothing but anger and anxiety. I just wanted to run over and start hitting him."

I thought it was clear from watching Davis and Hardy talk trash about each other prior to the fight that Davis was taking things more personally than Hardy was, so I'm not surprised to hear Davis say it affected his preparation and took his focus away from his game plan. I respect Davis for admitting that Hardy got the better of their mental battle.

But Davis says that even though Hardy bested him once, he wants to do it again, saying, "There is nothing I want more right now than a rematch with Dan Hardy."