[Cat--Smasher]

Following run-in with 'butter-toothed Brit,' UFC 149's Matthew Riddle wants Dan Hardy

Matthew Riddle has nothing against fellow welterweight Dan Hardy. Aside, maybe, from his nationality.

Following an impressive "Submission of the Night" victory over Chris Clements (11-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at Saturday's UFC 149 event, Riddle (7-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) respectively mentioned Hardy as an opponent he'd like to fight next.

But his stump speech took a bizarre turn when he recalled an English fight fan who once spat in his mouth.

Riddle kicked off the night's pay-per-view main card at Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome. After securing a standing arm-triangle choke, Riddle forced the fight to the mat and got the third-round tap-out, which netted him a $65,000 "Submission of the Night" bonus.

But perhaps his most entertaining moments came in the post-fight press conference. While initially declaring Hardy an opponent who could "put me on the map" if victorious, Riddle quickly recalled a run-in with one of his countrymen.

UFC president Dana White jokingly said he heard "Riddle hates English people" when the fighter mentioned Hardy. Little did the UFC boss know the can of worms he opened.

"I will be completely honest," Riddle said. "When I fought in Manchester, England, (for UFC 105), they were very cruel to me. One fan actually spit directly in my face, and he was lucky enough where it hit my mouth."

White's reaction? "Wow. I was actually kidding," he said.

But Riddle continued.

"To be completely honest, I don't have anything against English people," he said. "But ... I'll go over to London, and I'll put 'em down.

Sure, Hardy is already booked to fight Amir Sadollah in September at UFC on FUEL TV 5 in Nottingham, England, but White said Riddle will get wish, apparently at some point.

"Wow," White said. "We're definitely making the Dan Hardy fight now."

Following run-in with 'butter-toothed Brit,' UFC 149's Matthew Riddle wants Dan Hardy | MMAjunkie.com