JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Greg Hardy beat Yorgan De Castro with a unanimous decision Saturday to open up the main card at UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Take a look inside the fight with Hardy, who won a decision for the first time after his first five pro wins all were first-round knockouts.
Result: Greg Hardy def. Yorgan De Castro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Yorgan De Castro (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) vs. Greg Hardy (5-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC)
Key stat: Hardy outstruck De Castro 66-24 in the fight.
Hardy on the fight’s key moment
“It went exactly how I thought it was going to go. I said we would either bang it out in the first or we were going to bang it out for all three, and that’s exactly what we did. We played a smart game, but we were both in there to throw haymakers. My corners always tell me to use my athletic ability and stay smart out there, so that’s what I was trying to focus on and still deliver some big boy punches.”
Hardy on his progression
“I’m an advanced fighter. This is the third time I’ve done it – three 15-minute fights, three decent opponents, three great strikers, three great athletes. I feel like I proved that I can stay focused, stay in the pocket and do my job. I’m here to stay, here to evolve and do my job.”
Hardy on what he wants next
“Let’s fight in two weeks – or the first ‘Fight Island’ fight. Let’s take on all comers. And after that, let’s take one more fight, maybe No. 15 – and then let’s go down the list. We’re going to fight six times this year if the boss man lets me.”
To hear more from Hardy, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
