Dan Hardy doesn’t want ‘pointless’ surgery, seeks second opinion

Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy (25-10 MMA, 6-4 UFC) was recently forced to withdraw from a scheduled UFC on FOX 7 bout with Matt Brown, this after it was discovered that he had a heart-related problem in which he basically has two heart beats. The syndrome, known as Wolff-Parkinson White pattern or “Wolf Heart”, is a heart disorder that can lead to rapid heart rate, low blood pressure and even heart failure.

Although the news was  anything but good, it’s not all bad either, because according to the Brit, he hasn’t quite been diagnosed with the actual syndrome just yet. Dan visited a cardiologist and was told he would have to undergo ablation surgery, so that doctors may be able to study his heart and see if they can remedy the issue.

The former welterweight title challlenger was none too thrilled with that news, stating he does not want to go under the knife unless it’s necessary, as he currently only has the pattern and not the full-blown syndrome.

He explained his issue during a recent appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience”:

“It’s called Wolff Parkinson Heart Syndrome. But, I don’t have the syndrome because I don’t have the symptoms, I only have the pattern which means I have a second heart beat, but it’s never caused a problem. Basically, in your heart you have the basic pacemaker you have a bunch of cells that create electrical impulses that keep the heart beating. And what WPW people have are other cells in other parts of the heart that do the same thing. And usually what they do is they go in and, it’s called an ablation. They go into the femoral artery and they can burn them out and stuff. But, people have that done when they have symptoms. When they have palpitations, the dizziness; some people have panic attacks and stuff. I’ve never had anything, nothing at all. So, what they’re telling me at the moment, I mean, I got to go back and get some more tests done for a second opinion with a different person, but the way I understand it right now is that If I want to continue fighting, to get cleared I have to have the ablation. But because I’ve never had any symptoms and I’m perfectly fine, I don’t see the point in letting someone burning my shit. I mean, if it was causing a problem and that’s the solution then I would have it done, but it’s not.”

According to “The Outlaw”, the plan is to go back for a second opinion, saying he does not see the point in letting someone open him up to fix an issue he doesn’t quite have yet:

“I’m going to go back and get some more tests done. Lorenzo (Fertitta) has a special cardiologist that he wants me to go and see, so, I’m going to get that done and see what my options are. I don’t see the point in having the surgery done if I have to have it done to carry on fighting. It just seems pointless to me.”

Hardy seems to be in good spirits, although his medical issues couldn’t have come at a worse time in his fighting career as he is currently riding a two-fight win streak, scoring wins over Amir Sadollah and Duane Ludwig in the process.