Two heavyweight fighters still wearing the prospect label threw down on the UFC Vegas 12 main card Saturday. But for as much as Greg Hardy was still a prospect as he entered his 10th professional fight, he was also, well, Greg Hardy. A man who brought controversy and eyeballs with him whenever he fought.
In a rocky at best MMA career, Hardy had excelled against low level competition, blew his UFC debut with an illegal knee, and seen a victory overturned to a no contest due to illegal use of an inhaler. Ahead of UFC Vegas 12, he almost suffered another setback, coming in heavy for his fight against Maurice Greene. Which would be a first in UFC history. However, given an extra hour to cut the final half-pound, Hardy managed to come in under the heavyweight limit.
Greene opened the fight with a leg kick, which Hardy was happy to return. Hardy moved forward, Greene went for a kick that was caught by Hardy, and Hardy sent him to the ground. Greene fired an up kick, several really, that Hardy just avoided. That led to Hardy working from top with punches from half guard. Greene worked to lock Hardy down and hold on from the bottom. Hardy exploded with an elbow from top that found the mark, followed by strikes before he backed off and let Greene get back to his feet. Greene looked to get back into the action with a pair of leg kicks and Hardy answered with a body kick in return. Hardy continued to move forward and land the leg kick. Greene stayed with him and tried to land from range with his jab and kicks as the round came to a close.
That early knockdown turned out to be a sign of things to come. In the second, Greene opened up and looked to work the jab. Hardy threatened with a heavy left hand. Greene fired a high kick that missed the mark but Hardy landed a stiff left to the chin of Greene that immediately sent him to the mat. Hardy wasted to no time and and pounced on Greene with a flurry of punches. Essentially clubbing him at points. Greene tried to scramble and defend but Hardy landed enough for the ref to step in and call an end to the action and the fight. A visibly upset Maurice Greene argued that he had still been moving, to no avail.
Unquestionable power! 😤@GregHardyJr sits Greene down on a jab and doesn't let up.
[ Co-main next on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/9puT2wJ4n2
— UFC (@ufc) November 1, 2020
The question now becomes, what is the UFC to do with Greg Hardy? He clearly has the physical gifts to hang with the lower half of the heavyweight division. If his MMA career is to progress, however, he’ll need a step up in competition soon.
Official Result: Greg Hardy def. Maurice Green by TKO, Round 2, 1:12
