Undefeated Pro Boxer Heather Hardy To Make MMA Debut At Bellator 180
Heather Hardy is a professional boxer who holds the WBC International Female Super Bantamweight Title, and will be making her Mixed Martial Arts Debut this Saturday, June 24, 2017 at Madison Square Garden against Alice Yauger at Bellator 180.
Hardy has a professional boxing record of 20-0 and 1 NC. I love seeing an athlete switch over like this, to see how they fare, especially a pro boxer, since I enjoy the stand up aspect of MMA fights. Holly Holm comes to mind.
She did mention in an interview with Ariel Helwani that she’s been working on her ground game with Daniel Gracie, so hopefully she can hold her own if it goes to the ground.
I also can’t help but think of the impeccable timing of this, ahead of the August 26th bout of Mayweather vs McGregor. Business-wise, I think it was a brilliant decision on her end, although I’m sure this was scheduled before the McGregor Mayweather fight was scheduled, so it could be serendipitous timing.
One aspect it will address is that of a professional boxer vs an MMA fighter. Granted this won’t be under boxing rules, but everyone seems to be talking about this, arguing over the level of boxing in pro boxing vs MMA, and she has an undefeated professional boxing record, and so it will be great to see her striking in an MMA fight. Of course Yauger knows this, and may or may not want to engage in a boxing match against Hardy.
However it plays out, I am looking forwards to it. This will be on Spike TV sometime between 8-10 on the undercard ahead of the 10pm EST PPV main event.