Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight hitters Greg Hardy and Dmitry Smolyakov will collide this Saturday (April 27, 2019) at UFC Fight Night 150 from BB&T Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Let’s get the obvious issue out of the way quickly: there’s no reason at all for this bout to be on the main card, let alone the co-main event. Maybe ahead of Greg Hardy’s debut there was a terrible argument that the controversial former pro footballer would draw an audience or showcase some elite athleticism, but after we saw that dumpster fire of a fight? Is there anyone left who feels particularly invested in watching his fights? At the very least, he needs a several years in the gym before he’s even a prospect to consider. Regardless of my whinging, Hardy will step into the Octagon against Smolyakov, who was finished twice in two appearances in UFC, but brought back for this fight.
Let’s take a closer look at the keys to victory for each man:
Greg Hardy
Record: 3-1
Key Wins: Austen Lane (DWTNCS 2018), Tebaris Gordon (DWTNCS 2018)
Key Losses: Allen Crowder (UFC on ESPN+ 1)
Keys to Victory: Despite Hardy’s debut not exactly living up to the promised displays of “elite athleticism” that accompanied being a former National Football League (NFL) defensive end, his power cannot be doubted. At this point, fast hands and knockout power are about the extent of Hardy’s game.
Smolyakov is just not particularly good. Worse still, he’s not particularly durable. For all the criticism thrown at Hardy following his ugly debut loss, Hardy still landed some dangerous punches and was throwing heat — admittedly between heavy gasps for air — in the second round.
If Hardy doesn’t get put on his back and finished early, he’ll probably land something powerful sooner than later.
Dmitry Smolyakov
Record: 9-2
Key Wins: Sergey Grebenets (Coliseum FC: New History 2)
Key Losses: Cyril Asker (UFC Fight Night 103), Luis Henrique (UFC on FOX 20)
Keys to Victory: Smolyakov is far from the best Heavyweight has to offer. Despite being ranked as a Master of Sport in freestyle wrestling — maybe, because the only source I’ve found is Smolyakov himself — the Russian was out-wrestled in both of his UFC fights and has never defeated anyone of note.
Luckily, Hardy is really only “of note” because of his football background and past.
Whether Smolyakov truly is a Master of Sport or not, wrestling seems like the obvious path to victory here. Hardy is reasonably strong, sure, but Crowder proved that it is hardly impossible to put him on his back with a well-timed shot. Once on the mat, Smolyakov is a proven finisher, having ended all nine of his wins before the end of the first round.
This one is unlikely to last long, so Smolyakov needs that early takedown in a big way.
Bottom Line: This is an awful fight, but hopefully it ends spectacularly.
UFC is pushing Hardy — there is no doubt about it. There will always be those against Hardy’s involvement in the Octagon regardless of his skill, but at least prior to his debut, there were those who believed in Hardy’s potential as a prospect tuning in. His awful first fight really weakened that argument, but this bout will serve as a second chance to prove his value as a prospect.
If he loses again, it’s time for UFC to cut its losses.
Smolyakov has been given a gift with this fight. He was already cut in 2017, and there’s no reason to believe UFC would’ve brought him back after just one win on the regional scene over mediocre competition if not for Hardy. The organization clearly believes it’s a winnable fight for the former Carolina Panther, and as a result, Smolyakov has an opportunity to prove them wrong and regain a spot on the roster.
At UFC Fight Night 150, Greg Hardy and Dmitry Smolyakov will go to war. Which Heavyweight will see his hand raised?