Controversial ex-NFL player's UFC debut ends in DQ shame
Troubled ex-NFL star Greg Hardy’s UFC debut ended with a disqualification loss after he blasted Allen Crowder with an illegal knee to stop the fight in the second round.
Hardy was soundly booed from the moment he walked out to the octagon at Barclays Center for his first fight for the promotion.
He connected on some solid blows in the first round and had answered Crowder’s taunting in the second round with more heavy punches.
But with Crowder down on one knee, Hardy blasted him with a knee and referee Dan Miragliotta immediately separated the heavyweights.
Hardy looked confused as medical staff quickly entered the cage and checked on Crowder.
Numerous MMA fighters slammed Hardy, whose quick rise up the ranks has been backed by UFC president Dana White, for the move:
There is no way this fight continues. #UFCBrooklyn
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) January 20, 2019
.That Was for sure an illegal knee🤦♂️ , very unprofessional, that's what you can expect from a guy who has only 3 fights in his career, so immature ,he should have been more experienced to make it in the UFC
— Nordine Taleb (@TNT83MMA) January 20, 2019
I saw that knee coming from a mile away. That’s definitely not a good look. #UFCBROOKLYN
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) January 20, 2019
Read the rules homie #UFCbrooklyn
— Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) January 20, 2019
Isn’t that how life goes … Greg Hardy #UFConESPN
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) January 20, 2019
What do you except when you put that level of inexperience in that high level of a fight? Sad but true #UFCBROOKLYN
— Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) January 20, 2019
Do think @GregHardyJr did it on purpose because he wanted out of the fight or he just doesn’t really know the rules?
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) January 20, 2019
Hardy slumped against the cage on the other side as the crowd erupted in boos and chanted profanities at the disgraced former Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys player.
Hardy left the NFL after he was convicted of assaulting and threatening to kill a woman, with charges later dropped as officials said they couldn’t locate the accuser and believed she reached a settlement with the athlete.
with AP