UFC 272: Sergey Spivak Feels Delay in Hardy Fight Was a “Positive Trend”

Las Vegas, NV — Heavyweight Sergey Spivak finally throws down with Greg Hardy this weekend at UFC 272, after an earlier date with the ex-NFL star fell through.

Spivak originally stepped up to face Hardy in January at UFC 270, after Aleksei Oleinik withdrew from the match-up. But barely a day later, news broke that Hardy himself was out. The fight was then rebooked for UFC 272, and at Wednesday’s media day, Spivak called the change “a positive trend.”

Mind you, Spivak would have been equally happy with a different opponent, he told media outlets including Cageside Press, speaking via translator. “I want to fight with everybody. And I’m not so picky in terms of opponents,” said Spivak.

Since his last fight, Spivak has made some significant changes, he revealed Wednesday. “I was not fighting since that time, but I moved to Vegas, I was training here, and I’ve definitely improved my performance,” he explained. “We’ll see what happens this weekend.”

In Hardy, the Moldovan sees a formidable foe. “Greg is a huge, massive, and very powerful fighter, and he has very significant strikes and punches. I see this fight is exciting, it will be a very good fight.”

At the start of his career, Spivak fought several times in Ukraine, competing there seven times and winning a regional title under the WWFC banner. With the country currently under attack by Russian forces, Spivak confirmed he’s still in touch with friends there.

“I have friends who are currently over there. They are alive, and I hope this situation will be ending soon,” Spivak stated.

Watch the full UFC 272 media day appearance from Sergey Spivak above. The event takes place this Saturday, March 5, 2022 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. More coverage from the event can be found below.