Greg Hardy has reached his ceiling

I always assumed the promotional angle was to get him white hot heat by beating sub-UFC caliber opponents and then feeding him to someone violent for that ultimate gratification. It wouldn’t even have to be someone scratching at the top 5 like Rozenstruik. Imagine him vs Walt Harris.

But I think his manager must be playing things well for him behind the scenes because even though he’s taken some sound losses against decent competition, Tybura and Volkov are not the same types to dish out life-altering beatings that you’d get from Reem, Walt, Gane, or Francis.
 
I've actually been somewhat supportive of him because he didn't come in acting all hot shit and cocky. He talks like he knows he has a lot to learn and wants to grow. That being said, for the good of MMA he needed to lose. It shows the A level enablers that they can't just come in and dominate.
 
PlasticFishBowl said:
His cardio is bad and his ground game looked as bad as I’ve ever seen in my 5 years of watching MMA.

I agree with you that he probably lacks the ability to get in top 10. He’s 32 in an old man division though, so maybe if he can learn to grapple effectively over the next 2-3 years he can make a run. But his cardio probably just handicaps him from being able to do that. I think he quits mma by the end of 2021.
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yeah I would doubt his ground game is anything to write home about but what we saw with Tybura I would chalk up to insane level of gassing. I’m talking Mark Coleman in the shogun rematch so tired he can’t keep his hands up type of gassing.

Once he was on his back, you could tell there was just nothing in the tank. No ability to try to adjust his position even just a bit. He had to just put the forearms up and hope he could make it to the stool for a potential second wind. Didn’t happen.

I think he can certainly continue to improve skill wise but that cardio issue is very problematic and will hinder his progress.
 
unbelievable, once he got taken down that was it

didn't even get mounted or in side control, marciin pounded him out from half guard, not even a butterfly hook or shrimp to get to closed guard

needs to work on some ground game if he wants to survive
 
lsa said:
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Is this an example of these A-level athletes I keep hearing about who are going to take over the ufc?
 
He hasnt hit his ceiling yet. He even admits he needs to lose about 20 pounds of mass. If he is able to do so he can still improve. The question is though. Does he have the willpower and dedication to do so?
 
13 others said:
Greg Hardy has defenitly improved since his debut, you'll have to give him that. His striking has come along nicely which was obvious in his fight against Volkov & Tybura. However, Tybura isn't much of a striker so looking good on the feet should be a given against him.

The problem Hardy has is that the strikers in the top 15 of the HW division all beat him easily in a striking match. Volkov, Reem, Miocic, Ngannou, Rozenstruik etc. Then you have the top grapplers like Blaydes, olynyk, Ivanov etc who easily beat him with 1 takedown.

Then you have other guys of similar skill guys who have better cardio like Tanner Boser, Spivak, the guy with the diaper (did ufc cut him?). Who beat him from rd 2 forward.

All of the top 15 beat him easily at this point.

What's Hardy to do? He legit has Asthma which affects his cardio greatly plus he's a HW. His cardio won't be improving beyond what he has now. His grappling won't improve to a point where he can rely on it anytime soon, if ever. Even if he did become a good grappler his cardio doesn't support that type of style.

He can't beat the strikers, the grapplers, or the guys with better cardio.

Imo Hardy doesn't even have a punchers chance against the top guys. His KO power is over exaggerated and is more akin to a myth as opposed to reality. He hasnt KO'd anyone who is seriously invested in MMA. The TKOs he has are from guys using the opportunity as a way out of the fight because alot of them were intimidated by Hardy due to his hype. He didnt even wobble Tybura and hit him with 5 straights in a row last night.

Hardy has improved greatly but he isn't UFC caliber, not even at HW. I appreciate that he gets people excited for his fights and I've persnally watched them all but I think he'll be around for 1 or 2 more fights and maybe he'll be off to another adventure.

Is there anyone who thinks he'll actually crack the top 10 of the division? If so, how?
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I agree about his ceiling. I don't agree that he has actual medical asthma. Hardy is indeed an A level athlete, and in his case it means he is built to sprint for 15 seconds and then rest and recover for multiple minutes. The actual amount of play time in an average NFL game is only 11 minutes, spread out over 3 plus hours. In addition he spent years training his "A level" body to be good at certain skills, most of which don't translate to MMA or at best have minimal application. Now he has to work on a much more diverse set of movements, and that takes time to get good because your body has to adapt.

Ultimately I don't see Hardy being anywhere close to a top guy in any combat sport. He can stomp some guys in the sub-top 10/15, but I don't see him rising above that.
 
I think the idea that just his current cardio ability is solely based on his asthma is just untrue. If he dropped 20 lbs. of body fat (completely possible for him) doing cardio, his lung capacity would improve greatly. Would his cardio be just the same if he was 20 lbs. heavier? Stupid point. However, his skills are far below the top 15!
 
13 others said:
Greg Hardy has defenitly improved since his debut, you'll have to give him that. His striking has come along nicely which was obvious in his fight against Volkov & Tybura. However, Tybura isn't much of a striker so looking good on the feet should be a given against him.

The problem Hardy has is that the strikers in the top 15 of the HW division all beat him easily in a striking match. Volkov, Reem, Miocic, Ngannou, Rozenstruik etc. Then you have the top grapplers like Blaydes, olynyk, Ivanov etc who easily beat him with 1 takedown.

Then you have other guys of similar skill guys who have better cardio like Tanner Boser, Spivak, the guy with the diaper (did ufc cut him?). Who beat him from rd 2 forward.

All of the top 15 beat him easily at this point.

What's Hardy to do? He legit has Asthma which affects his cardio greatly plus he's a HW. His cardio won't be improving beyond what he has now. His grappling won't improve to a point where he can rely on it anytime soon, if ever. Even if he did become a good grappler his cardio doesn't support that type of style.

He can't beat the strikers, the grapplers, or the guys with better cardio.

Imo Hardy doesn't even have a punchers chance against the top guys. His KO power is over exaggerated and is more akin to a myth as opposed to reality. He hasnt KO'd anyone who is seriously invested in MMA. The TKOs he has are from guys using the opportunity as a way out of the fight because alot of them were intimidated by Hardy due to his hype. He didnt even wobble Tybura and hit him with 5 straights in a row last night.

Hardy has improved greatly but he isn't UFC caliber, not even at HW. I appreciate that he gets people excited for his fights and I've persnally watched them all but I think he'll be around for 1 or 2 more fights and maybe he'll be off to another adventure.

Is there anyone who thinks he'll actually crack the top 10 of the division? If so, how?
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Those straights were arm punches that is why there wasn't much power behind them. His overhand right, and right hook is his power punches. His straights he doesn't fully extend and snap it out so they are more like push style punches.

He should work on power hooks Tyson style when he's on the inside. He's trying to throws straights in the inside and there's no space to really throw that, that's why people fight in the inside with mostly hooks and not jabs and straights.

With adjustments on his game he can still improve. He needs to learn pacing and learn to only sprint after he connects clean and he has them hurt or stunned. Not going 100% and trying to force it, he just burns himself out that way if he isn't able to force the KO.
 
FIghtxIQ said:
Those straights were arm punches that is why there wasn't much power behind them. His overhand right, and right hook is his power punches. His straights he doesn't fully extend and snap it out so they are more like push style punches.

He should work on power hooks Tyson style when he's on the inside. He's trying to throws straights in the inside and there's no space to really throw that, that's why people fight in the inside with mostly hooks and not jabs and straights.

With adjustments on his game he can still improve. He needs to learn pacing and learn to only sprint after he connects clean and he has them hurt or stunned. Not going 100% and trying to force it, he just burns himself out that way if he isn't able to force the KO.
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Nice man, good stuff. To me it looks like his striking is being refined and he is fighting at a reasonable pace compared to some of his earlier fights. Still, you can't just be one dimensional like that and get away with it. Although he was fresh enough in rd 1 to stave off some of Marcins takedowns. He did seem tense in there though.
 
ocfightfan said:
I agree about his ceiling. I don't agree that he has actual medical asthma. Hardy is indeed an A level athlete, and in his case it means he is built to sprint for 15 seconds and then rest and recover for multiple minutes. The actual amount of play time in an average NFL game is only 11 minutes, spread out over 3 plus hours. In addition he spent years training his "A level" body to be good at certain skills, most of which don't translate to MMA or at best have minimal application. Now he has to work on a much more diverse set of movements, and that takes time to get good because your body has to adapt.

Ultimately I don't see Hardy being anywhere close to a top guy in any combat sport. He can stomp some guys in the sub-top 10/15, but I don't see him rising above that.
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Yeah, I'm not sure what the inhaler was for. I just assumed asthma. If he doesn't have asthma then he legit crazy for trying to use that between rounds lol
 
13 others said:
Yeah, I'm not sure what the inhaler was for. I just assumed asthma. If he doesn't have asthma then he legit crazy for trying to use that between rounds lol
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He's just a cheater trying to make up for his shitty cardio.
 
13 others said:
Well, I did mention it. Like I said, I watched all his fights and generally I find he is a popular fighter at HW. I won't take that away from him.
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No Sir you are absolutely still taking it away from him even now. Say it with me it won't hurt your soul. GREG HARDY PUTS ON ENTERTAINING FIGHTS WIN OR LOSE AND IS VERY GOOD CARD FILLER.
 
Al Stone said:
No Sir you are absolutely still taking it away from him even now. Say it with me it won't hurt your soul. GREG HARDY PUTS ON ENTERTAINING FIGHTS WIN OR LOSE AND IS VERY GOOD CARD FILLER.
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Yeah dude I agree with you, I established that in my op. Just like Askren, CM Punk, and Northcutt. All entertaining.
 
sonhow said:
He has that round 1 shot. Against anyone above average he is fucked after that though.
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how could is Tybura’s chin, cuz he ate many first round right hands. It tells me Hardy only has that 1 rd punchers chance against chinny top tens.
 
NFLDer said:
“Elite athlete” and he has absolutely no cardio and as soon as the fight hit the ground and he got hit he turtled. How did he make the NFL? I doubt he can run a 40 without passing out or needing his inhaler.
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40 only takes 4 seconds.

benchpress and vertical arent good indicators of the genetics required to fight a full fight.

you can be elite in one specific set of athletic gifts and weak in others.
 
13 others said:
Yeah dude I agree with you, I established that in my op. Just like Askren, CM Punk, and Northcutt. All entertaining.
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What slow your roll. Greg Hardy has entertained on at least 5 occasions I can think of. He is no longer a flash in the pan. He delivers. I could give you Sage but if we are talking strictly UFC man get real. They don't have the UFC career to be anything other than a here today gone tomorrow. Hardy is official. He is officially a UFCstaple fighter.. Askren could have been and he did deliver I agree but his career ironically in the UFC is shorter than Hardy
 
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