Greg Hardy needed a little help in the Octagon on Friday night at UFC Boston — help that he shouldn’t have been allowed to receive in the first place.
Hardy took on Ben Sosoli at TD Garden at UFC Boston on Friday night, and initially won the bout by unanimous decision after a solid performance in just his fourth UFC bout ever.
Yet before the third and final round, Hardy took a hit from an inhaler while sitting in the corner, extremely out of breath.
Greg Hardy just hitting an inhaler between rounds. Classic Greg Hardy. #UFCBoston pic.twitter.com/2JX9iWxXvy
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 19, 2019
After the hit, Hardy went out and finished the job, earning the unanimous decision victory in his first fight to go the distance.
Hardy was called out by ESPN commentators for the use of the inhaler, which Marc Ratner said was "completely illegal."
A meeting after the fight determined that Hardy’s inhaler use — which was initially thought to be approved by a Massachusetts athletic commissioner at the time — violated UFC rules. The fight was then officially ruled a no-contest.
Per @MarcRatnerUFC the commission never approved the use of the inhaler. An inspector said it was OK and he didn’t have the authority to do so. Fight officially a no-contest
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) October 19, 2019
According to Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole, an inspector initially approved the inhaler use when Hardy and his team asked. That inspector, however, didn’t have the authority to do so — which is why the fight was ruled a no-contest instead of a disqualification.
“I was in the ring, me and my coach asked the commission if it would be OK to use my inhaler and they said yes, so I took it,” Hardy said, via ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. “I’m still 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.”
Greg Hardy on his fight getting overturned to a no-contest due to the use of his inhaler between rounds #UFCBoston pic.twitter.com/6WLd1tOEGC
— Justin Barrasso (@JustinBarrasso) October 19, 2019
Fans, fighters rip Hardy for inhaler use on social media
Fans, naturally, ripped Hardy on social media for the inhaler use. Even Daniel Cormier, who was on the ESPN broadcast during the fight, went after Hardy and the UFC.
You can’t an inhaler between rounds idiot. That is cheating and should be disqualification!!!! https://t.co/B6EI4XNorn
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 19, 2019
Waiiit whatt hardy got an inhaler between rounds?! 🤯 #UFCBoston
— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) October 19, 2019
Umm, what was that, Greg Hardy?!?! #JumpingSpinningShit #UFCBoston
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) October 19, 2019
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) October 19, 2019
Shittttt I got asthma too 😤 #ufcboston
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) October 19, 2019
Damn inhaler in between rounds?? We cant even have @DrinkBODYARMOR #UFCBoston
— Cortney Casey (@CastIron_Casey) October 19, 2019
Did Greg Hardy just use an inhaler in the corner? #UFCBoston 🤔
— Frank Mir (@thefrankmir) October 19, 2019
Side-effects of oral steroids, you may experience: mood swings... 👀#ufcboston pic.twitter.com/oUT6IaACv3
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) October 19, 2019
this mofo just used a inhaler 😂😂
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) October 19, 2019
This has to be a no contest by Greg Hardy #ufcboston #inhaler #illegal
— Curtis Blaydes (@RazorBlaydes265) October 19, 2019
Yo greg hardy just changed the game I cant believe I never thought of this. My coaches better have an oxygen tank available in between rounds from now on 😂
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) October 19, 2019
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