One of several high-profile debuts at UFC Paris, Harry Hardwick, a Cage Warriors star and former champ, steps in on short notice. He’ll face Kaue Fernandes on a card headlined by Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho.
Harry “Houdini” Hardwick
Standing at five-foot-ten
Fighting at 170 lbs (welterweight)
30-years-old
Fighting out of Middlesbrough, England
Training out of Middlesbrough Fight Academy
A pro record of 13-3-1
3 KO/TKOs, 4 Submissions
Hardwick enters the UFC as both a Cage Warriors veteran and former champion, with a brief stint in Bellator earlier in his career. He made his name in Cage Warriors, going 7-0-1, capturing the featherweight belt, and defending it twice. While he’s beaten solid regional competition throughout his run, his recent back-to-back wins over Javier Garcia and Keweny Lopes showed he’s ready for the next step.
Facing Hardwick is like walking into a wood chipper: he chips away at you until you’re completely engulfed. He applies relentless pressure from the opening bell, cutting off the cage and forcing opponents into his preferred range, the pocket. That’s where his sharp boxing shines. Hardwick thrives on volume, throwing constant combinations and changing tempo, angles, and targets. He mixes jabs, hooks, and kicks at all levels, never falling into predictable patterns.
Defensively, he’ll roll with punches but still takes his share of damage— it’s part of the cost of his style. What makes him dangerous is his durability, forward pressure, and endless pace, which wear down opponents over time.
His takedown defense was a liability earlier in his career, but he’s shored it up. Even when taken down, he scrambles well and threatens submissions off his back. On top, he’s an underrated offensive grappler. His body triangle is suffocating, and he’s adept at hunting finishes from dominant positions.
Hardwick isn’t without flaws. He can be hit clean, has been dropped, taken down, and doesn’t carry huge knockout power. But his toughness, output, and versatility make him a nightmare to deal with.
