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UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy’s first decision win was short lived.
Greg Hardy will not leave Beantown with a win after all.
The controversial UFC heavyweight and former NFL All-Pro defeated Ben Sosoli by unanimous decision Saturday night on the UFC Boston main card, but according to Yahoo! Sports, that result has been overturned to a no contest. UFC officials also confirmed the news.
Hardy used an inhaler between the second and third rounds of his bout with Sosoli, according to the broadcast. The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission (MSAC) never approved Hardy’s use of the inhaler, according to Marc Ratner, UFC vice president of regulatory affairs (via Yahoo! Sports). An inspector reportedly told Hardy it was OK for him to use the inhaler, but he or she did not have the authority to do so.
“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 after the fight, per a UFC press release. “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.”
Though his win has been overturned, Hardy should not have any issues with UFC anti-doping partner USADA. According to Jeff Novitzky, UFC vice president of athlete health and performance (via Yahoo! Sports), Hardy’s inhaler likely contained albuterol (also called salbutamol), which is allowed in the UFC anti-doping program under a certain dose, per USADA. Athletes cannot exceed 1600 micrograms over 24 hours in divided doses or 800 micrograms over 12 hours starting from any dose, per USADA.
Every inhaler lists its dosage per puff, per USADA’s website. This can be used to calculate how many puffs per day athletes can have legally. For example, an athlete could take eight puffs of an albuterol inhaler that delivers 90 micrograms/puff in a 12-hour period without incurring a USADA violation.
Hardy went to the distance for the first time in his MMA career Saturday, initially receiving a 30-27 nod against Sosoli from all three judges. Hardy, who debuted in the Octagon this past January, is now 2-1, 1 NC in the UFC.