Greg Hardy’s UFC Boston win ruled a no contest for use of inhaler between rounds
- Use of inhaler ‘completely illegal’ and ‘against all the rules’, says UFC
- Hardy claims Massachusetts State Athletic Commission told him use of inhaler was allowed
Greg Hardy added another controversial chapter to his UFC career, with his decision win against Ben Sosoli officially ruled a no contest after he used an inhaler.
Former NFL player Hardy (6-1) had initially racked up his third win in the Octagon on Friday night at UFC Boston, with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28 in his favour.
But between the second and third rounds at TD Garden, cameras picked up Hardy – who was disqualified for using an illegal knee against Allen Crowder in January – asking his team if he was allowed to use an inhaler, and then using it.
UFC vice-president of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner later came on the broadcast and said the use of an inhaler was “completely illegal” and “against all the rules”.
“I was in the ring, me and my coach asked the [Massachusetts State Athletic] Commission if it would be OK to use my inhaler and they said yes, so I took it,” Hardy said in a statement after the no contest was announced.
“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,” added Hardy, who was exiled from the NFL after being convicted of domestic violence in 2014. The charges were later expunged from his record.
