Ask a UFC fan about the best era in the promotion’s history, and you’ll get a variety of answers. Some favor the no-holds barred days, while for others, time starts with The Ultimate Fighter. Conor McGregor is the reference point for legions of followers.
For one-time UFC welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy, one sweet spot is the time when the UFC had just turned over a new leaf under the ownership of Zuffa LLC, which purchased the flagging MMA promotion in 2001 for $2 million. The pay-per-view events numbered in the 30s, and the stars of the day were Tito Ortiz, B.