Canadian flyweight Jamey-Lyn Horth made her sophomore trip to the octagon to kick off Saturday’s UFC Austin, where she was matched with with Venezuela’s Veronica Hardy.
Hardy, nee Macedo, had husband Dan Hardy in her corner — a wealth of knowledge as a former UFC title challenger. As for Horth, she had made the trip to Mexico to train alongside champ Alexa Grasso ahead of UFC Austin.
Squamish, B.C.’s Horth held the center of the cage early, taking half-steps forward which Hardy stayed outside. A slip by Horth didn’t give Hardy the opportunity to pound, and they went back to feeling each other out. Horth went to the body with a kick that connected; Hardy’s answer, also to the body, landed with a similar thud. A caught kick by Hardy gave Horth a little scare, but she pulled free. Through half a round, neither woman really had the upper hand, but a short exchange moments later saw Hardy connect. She then backed Horth up against the cage, unloading lefts and rights before Horth escaped — with the fans getting behind her, chanting “Hardy, Hardy.”
Not the start Horth had envisioned after being successful in her debut up a weight class. Hardy nearly dropped Horth with just over a minute left in the round, though it was a bit of a slip. Hardy then went on the offensive while Horth complained of an eye poke. While the pair originally fought on, the ref eventually did call time, giving Hardy a chance to fish her eyelashes out of her eye, while declining a visit from the doctor.
Round two saw Horth on the attack, chasing Veronica Hardy, who had a clear edge in speed. Horth took some big swings, but was hitting air while Hardy stayed on her bike and showed some solid lateral movement. When they came together just over two minutes in, Hardy wound up getting the fight down, landing on top, though Horth appeared to accept the position. They didn’t stay down long, however, and ended up grappling against the fence, battling for head position— Hardy landing a particularly nasty elbow.
The next trip to the ground saw Horth on top, though an active bottom game from Hardy backed her off. Hardy then connected with an upkick, with the crowd gasping, though Horth ate it, and got back on top to ride out the clock.
Round three saw Horth catch a Hardy kick and fire back, as both women were swinging hard. Horth took the fight to the fence, leaning on Hardy and firing knees. Hardy then connected up top, and Horth fired back off the break. Horth brought the fight back to the fence, firing an elbow over the top before tying things up. Time was not Jamey-Lyn Horth’s friend, however. Two minutes were left in a round, and Horth was pursuing a takedown while almost certainly down in the fight. The pair would trade elbows before Hardy finally escaped, notably slowed. Horth then dropped Hardy with an elbow, but let her back to the feet. Another clinch, and less than a minute remained. Horth landed a throw, but Hardy was straight back to her feet. Another takedown attempt ended with Hardy on top, as a throw backfired on Horth, but again, they were straight back to the feet.
The judges were split in the end, but Hardy had clearly done enough to capture the victory.
