Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy (23-9-1) hasn’t had the greatest year. To think that a little over a year and a half ago the British trash talker was fighting for the title makes the fall seem that much greater as he is on an 0-3 skid and may just get the much feared UFC walking papers. Hardy says that he the threat of unemployment won’t change his game-plan, however, as he plans to do what always does, stand and bang. The 29-year old Brit thinks Chris Lytle and he are of like mind about that.

“That’s what I’m hoping for. Chris is an exciting fighter, and he always brings the fight,” Hardy explains to Cagepotato.com. “I’m sure this fight won’t be any different. I’m always fine with trading punches until someone falls over…I like my odds in that gamble.”

The Outlaw goes on to say he not only wants Fight of the Night honors, a very possible outcome considering his competition, but the Knockout of the Night award as well. “My goal is to be the first person to knock Chris out. I’m not sure when it will come or how it will come, but I have a lot of options, a lot of techniques that would get him out of there before the final bell.” Should achieve his goal Hardy will undoubtedly save his job and pocket quite a nice bit of extra cash.

Chris Lytle doesn’t give anybody an easy night though. “Lights Out” (30-18-5) is perhaps one of the most likeable and durable fighters in the UFC, notoriously hard to finish with all but two losses by decision, and both of those were called early by the doctors. The Indianapolis born firefighter is as exciting as they come whether he fights on his feet or off his back. In total Lytle has won over 385,000 in bonus cash from eight award of the night performances, five of which were Fight of the Night.

Ever respectful, Lytle tells Sherdog that he sympathizes with Hardy, knowing that his opponenets back is against the wall, and will be happy to fight a cornered Outlaw. “He got beat by [Georges] St. Pierre in a long, grueling decision, and he got caught in a fight. He got caught by Carlos Condit. If you’re aggressive, that happens sometimes. Then Anthony Johnson, who’s probably one of the biggest guys in the division, decided not to throw down with him and just kind of held him down the whole time. He’s got a couple of tough losses in a row. You get a guy like that and he has his back against the wall, usually they come out and fight like … their life depends on it. I do like that aspect,” says Lytle. “I want somebody coming out guns a-blazing, trying to take me out. I think I’m going to get that. That’s all I can ask for.”

Whatever the outcome, the longtime UFC veteran’s goal is as crystal clear as Hardy’s. “If a submission comes, they come. But what I’m not going to do is go out there and try to take somebody down and if the guy’s playing a good submission game, just kind of sit there and ride it out and hold him down for three rounds. You’re not going to see that from me ever. … If I had the choice between winning the most boring fight of my life or losing the best fight of my life, I’m going to choose losing the best fight of my life every time. It’s not even going to be a question.”