There are plenty of people who don’t want to see Greg Hardy succeed in the UFC, but they will have to wait longer, following another quick knockout Tuesday by the former NFL player. Meanwhile, more than a few are hoping Khabib Nurmagomedov takes care of Conor McGregor, but the UFC lightweight champion may have lost a few fans in the wake of a video that he reportedly posted, then deleted.
The video shows the Russian’s cousin, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, who is also an MMA fighter, appearing to pay homeless people to do pushups while Nurmagomedov holds the camera and laughs uproariously. Several other MMA fighters were not at all amused, with UFC middleweight Jack Hermansson calling it “disgusting.”
What are your thoughts on this video posted by Khabib of him and his cousin paying homeless people to do press ups for money... 🤔
— The MMA Bible (@TheMMABible) August 6, 2018
Personally we feel it's disgusting and degrading.. Especially them constantly laughing at those involved.. 😡 pic.twitter.com/msE5i9ureE
Disgusting behaviour. People may think this is harmless but this is taking away dignety from a person that is in a struggle and you laugh about it. He see people doing pushups everyday without laughing. But he thinks it is funny because there is a poor homeless man?!?!
— jack hermansson (@jackthejokermma) August 7, 2018
It pains my heart to see a man who talks about God all the time, act like this!
— Cindy Dandois (@DandoisCindy) August 7, 2018
Nurmagomedov, 29, is set to square off with McGregor for the lightweight crown on Oct. 6 at UFC 229, in what will be the Irishman’s first MMA fight since November 2016. The match is considered to have a good shot at setting a UFC record for pay-per-view revenue, but the company’s president, Dana White, can’t be thrilled with the latest headlines created by Nurmagomedov.
The 30-year-old Hardy accounted for a slew of negative reports during his NFL career, one that fizzled after he was suspended while legal proceedings played out involving allegations of domestic abuse. His last stop, with the Cowboys, was also marked by other behavioral issues, as the team released him after one season while reportedly concerned about his off-field partying and lateness for meetings, as well as about his run-ins with teammates,
White, however, appeared pleased with the recent addition to his UFC roster, after Hardy (2-0) dispatched fellow heavyweight Tebaris Gordon (3-1) in just 17 seconds. Appearing again on White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, where he scored a 57-second knockout in June to win his professional MMA debut, Hardy swarmed Gordon from the outset and dropped his overmatched opponent under a flurry of punches.
Another nasty KO from Greg Hardy on #DWTNCS pic.twitter.com/sFTvpktxDC
— Untitled MMA (@UntitledMMA) August 8, 2018
After the win, White stood near Hardy as the latter was taking questions from reporters, and he interjected to claim that he had taken a call from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones about three weeks previously, in which Jones said of Hardy, “He was the toughest son of a b—- we ever had on this team.”
Moments before, Hardy had said he would like to continue his NFL career, but only with one of the two teams for which he previously played, telling reporters with a chuckle, “Listen, if the Cowboys or the Panthers call — brother, I’m on my way.”
After Hardy’s comments about Jones, Hardy said, “The best people in the world, right there. … So if those guys call, I’m in there, but other than that, boss man, this is what I do and I’m happy to be here.”
Spoke to Greg Hardy (@GregHardyJr ) after his second MMA win about that small injury he suffered on the football field weeks back and if he plans to keep playing. Dana White chimes in at the end. pic.twitter.com/HPyDlC2Il2
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) August 8, 2018
White said that despite Hardy’s dominance in his first two fights, the former defensive end, who is signed to a developmental deal, needs some more seasoning before he possibly competes on the UFC’s top-level circuit. “He’s got two fights, some of these kids have 12 fights, some are 7-0,” said White (via MMA Fighting). “He’s got nothing but time. He has to get some more work in.”
“I did what I said I’d do. I’m here for business,” Hardy said. “I just had it on my mind. Come out, put on pressure, apply my skill set. … I was in the zone. I was going to keep throwing punches until it was waved off.”
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