Greg Hardy didn’t do much to enhance his already tarnished reputation in his Octagon debut.
The former NFL star was disqualified after landing an illegal knee against Allen Crowder in the UFC Fight Night 143 co-main event in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Saturday night, drawing boos from those in attendance at the Barclays Center. Hardy, whose first three pro fights ended in less than a minute, claimed the blow, which ended the bout at the 2:28 mark of round two, was unintentional.
“He was getting up, it was inexperience in mistiming it, man,” Hardy told media at the post-fight press conference. “But I was trying to time it like I had just watched Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone do, like I saw everybody else do, and I thought it was the right thing to do at the time. And it was not. I messed up.”
Hardy’s past history with domestic violence led some to plenty of skepticism regarding his intent with the knee. However, Hardy pointed out that he had a clean history on the gridiron.
“Show me one time I’ve ever cheated in my life,” Hardy said. “Show me one other lineman or one of their favorite quarterbacks in history that I’ve ever cheated against. Go ask Tom Brady if I cheated when I sacked him.
“I’m not a cheater. That’s not on my record. That’s not on my resume. Thirty years of life, not one time. Not one time have you ever asked me a question, and I’ve lied to you. Not one time have you ever seen me stand up here, and I told you it wasn’t my fault. I was there. I did it. It’s my responsibility. I’m a grown man. That’s my character.”
Prior to the stoppage, Hardy struggled at times against Crowder, a more experienced opponent who was able to survive the former Pro Bowler’s initial barrage. The American Top Team representative would like to have another shot against Crowder if the stars align.
“I want to get up as soon as possible. In seven days, I’ll be back in the gym. I’m going to fix my timing … and I’m going to be back with bad intentions for whoever wants to step in there with me,” he said. “Allen Crowder, please come back and let’s do it again if he wants to. If not, I understand, just like I understand everyone has their opinion of me.”
Despite the transgression, UFC President Dana White confirmed that Hardy will get another chance in the Octagon. Competing at the highest level requires an adjustment period, but the promotion head pointed out some positives in Hardy’s otherwise disappointing performance.
“One thing that I did learn about Hardy tonight? He can fight,” White said. “He can fight, he’s an athlete. Not only can he punch hard, but he can take a big punch. He got hit with some good shots tonight. His ground game, I think everybody thought if he got taken down to the ground, that was going to be the end of him. He got out of trouble on the ground several times, and he learned a lot tonight.”
As for Hardy himself, he was disappointed with the outcome – but not completely discouraged. As long as he’s under UFC contract, he plans on sticking around.
“I am not like you,” Hardy said. “I am not like anybody else. I understand, God bless them. But I’m here to stay. As long as Dana White will have me, as long as ESPN will have me, as long as you guys will have me, I love all of you, and I’m here to stay, and I’m going to fix what I did wrong, and it was not intentional.”