UFC MOSCOW: Greg Hardy Injures Hand In Unanimous Decision Loss To Alexander Volkov
Facing the No. 7-ranked heavyweight fighter, Greg Hardy held his own against Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night 163 in Moscow, but ultimately came up short, losing by unanimous decision.
Despite entering UFC Moscow with a 5-1 professional MMA record, Greg Hardy still had many skeptics believing he didn't belong in the UFC. On Saturday, despite suffering a unanimous decision loss to Alexander Volkov, the heavyweight newcomer proved he could hang with the best of them.
Coming off a no contest (overturned from a win) against Ben Sosoli less than a month ago, Hardy made a quick turnaround to face his toughest opponent yet, the No.7-ranked heavyweight. Replacing Junior Dos Santos as a late replacement, Hardy seemingly held his own against Volkov throughout the three-round fight.
Aware of Hardy's knockout power, Volkov kept the former NFL star at a distance with an accurate jab. His sharp technique perfectly countered Hardy's raw power and for three rounds out kickboxed the newcomer. In between the first and second round, Hardy told his corner that he had injured his right hand, which could have impacted his overall approach to the fight. Though he did still occasionally throw it in the second round, he relied mostly on left jabs and hooks throughout the remainder of the fight.
Already at a disadvantage from a mere experience standpoint, being unable to throw his right hand with consistent power severely hindered Hardy in the fight. This led to a unanimous decision win (30-27 x 3) for Alexander Volkov. In his post-fight interview, Volkov said he had unfinished business with Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem.
Hardy definitely looked better than anyone probably expected, but still clearly has a ways to go before he becomes a legitimate challenger in the division.
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