Things didn’t go as planned for Greg Hardy, the former UFC heavyweight fighter, as he suffered a crushing knockout loss against Aleksei Papin during an intense showdown in Moscow.
The former NFL player, renowned for his time with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers, made a transition to mixed martial arts, joining the UFC in 2019. With his imposing physique, Dana White initially saw him as a rising star in the heavyweight division. However, Hardy’s career quickly unraveled after suffering three consecutive KO losses to Tai Tuivasa, Marcin Tybura, and Serghei Spivac.
Following his UFC departure, Hardy ventured into professional boxing. Facing Russia’s Aleksei Papin, a fighter with 18 victories to his name, Hardy was up against a formidable opponent.
The fight ends with a brutal KO
From the outset, Hardy appeared outmatched. Papin dominated the exchanges and finished the fight with a devastating knockout in the third round.
You’re gonna wanna watch Greg Hardy get KOd again.
This time it happened in Moscow. pic.twitter.com/ip1pjtLJl9
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) December 13, 2024
Post-fight, Greg Hardy remained positive, stating:
“Thank you to everyone who helped me get here. I came to Russia to test myself against a monster with 18 wins. I’m not done yet.”
Despite the crushing defeat, Hardy seems determined to step back into the ring. But the lingering question remains: will this loss mark the end of his career, or will he rise again?
