Former UFC welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy saw his career take a downward spiral after challenging Georges St-Pierre for his belt at UFC 111 in March 2010.

That marked the beginning of a four-fight losing skid and it looked like Hardy was going to get his pink slip at that point.

However, the higher ups of the UFC decided that “The Outlaw’s” entertaining style warranted a long leash and he has since bounced back with two straight wins.

In an interview with MMA Junkie on Saturday, Hardy explained that he wants to make another run at the title this year before he, at the least, goes on a hiatus from the sport.

"As of right now, I just need to embrace that instinctual inner-reptile and have a run at the belt again. I'm excited about this year because my potential is sky-high, and it's completely open for me to do whatever I like with it.”

“I'm very determined to make this a big year for me and step away from the top of the sport and do something else for a while."

Speaking, who next fights at UFC on FOX 7 against Matt Brown, says that he’s getting to the point where he’s benefited all he can from the sport of mixed martial arts.

"I'm ready for a new challenge, I'll be honest. There are a lot of things about this sport that I love, and a lot of things about this sport that I don't like at all."

"Martial arts for me has always been a tool to understand myself a little more, and it's getting to the stage where it's run its course now. The structure the sport has taken on is taking away from that for me, and I think I'm best served to be somewhere else in the future."

Hardy currently has a professional record of 25-10(1) and has won two “Fight Night” bonuses in his past three fights.