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While he’s not quite the Michael Jordan of mixed martial arts (MMA), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight power puncher Greg Hardy believes he’s only one or two big wins away from cracking the Top 15.
That journey includes his 265-pound showdown against fellow division bruiser and former TUF guy Maurice Green on the main card of the upcoming UFC Vegas 12 event, scheduled for this Sat. night (Oct. 31, 2020) inside APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I’m reaching assassin level, man,” Hardy told MMA Junkie. “I had some valleys to get over, I’m not going to lie. I had to go through some tough times, especially in my last two fights. The last one, I didn’t have to, but I prolonged it just to get some time in the ring. If I was a C- or D-level fighter, yeah, I’d say I was a D level fighter. I think I’m in the B class. I’ve added some tools and knowledge to where I’m about to start finishing fights and head hunt, looking for a rank next to my name. It’s time.”
Hardy (6-2, 1 NC) has been with the promotion for nearly two years and probably would have earned himself a place in the division rankings by now, had it not been for a one-sided loss to No. 6-ranked Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night 163 last November.
In addition, “The Prince of War” has made a couple of rookie mistakes along the way, which led to a disqualification and a “no contest” in a span of just four fights. His performance against Greene may tell us a lot about Hardy’s future, for better or worse.