Greg Hardy's inexperience in the Octagon has once again come back to bite him as his win over Ben Sosoli at UFC Boston on Friday night was overturned to a no-contest by the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission. The change results from Hardy's use of an inhaler between the second and third-rounds of the three-round heavyweight bout.
According to ESPN, Hardy asked an MSAC inspector whether he was allowed to use the inhaler, only doing so after the inspector asked if it was medically approved. Initial reports stated that it was, but the MSAC later ruled against Hardy's use of the inhaler. The United States Anti-Doping Agency allows the use of certain inhalers in the sport.
"I was in the ring, me and my coach asked the commission if it would be OK to use my inhaler, and they said yes, so I took it," Hardy said. "I'm still a new guy in this sport. I did what I do in every situation. I asked permission, I got permission, and I did what I was told."
Hardy's inhaler use was noted on his USADA and MSAC paperworkd. "It doesn't help me breathe better. It helps me breathe just like you, pretty much evens the playing field," Hardy said. Hardy has had exercise-induced asthma his whole life, and uses the inhaler every day, but he had never used it during a fight until Friday's bout.
"I'm really just worried about what my boss thinks. The worst part for me is here I am letting people down again," Hardy said when asked if he would attempt to get the MSAC ruling overturned. It's the second controversial finish for Hardy in his young MMA career. He debut in the UFC ended with a disqualification loss when he knocked out Allen Crowder with an illegal knee.
"It shouldn't even be a question," White said about Hardy's inhaler use, adding that his corner should have known better.
Hardy has only been fighting professionally since 2018 and came into the UFC with just three fights of experience. The former NFL player-turned-fighter is now 5-1 with 1 No Contest.