I always got the impression that the Hardy/Swick fight was a #1 contender fight by default. Since GSP had already beaten the other true #1 contenders in Fitch and Alves (who haven't done much since those losses to deserve another title fight). Paulo Thiago could've challenged if he hadn't have lost to Fitch. Koscheck could've as well if he hadn't of been TKO'ed by Thiago. Everything got Fubar after certain guys hit some snags along the way. So Swick (undefeated at WW at the time) and Hardy (still undefeated at WW in the UFC) were the only guys left.