UFC Fight Night 258 wasn’t the best night for Harry Hardwick.
On top of losing his UFC debut, Hardwick (13-4-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) took some of the most brutal leg kicks since in recent years, courtesy of Kaue Fernandes. The kicks had Hardwick limping in pain for a good chunk of the bout until his legs finally gave out due to the damage, and he was no longer able to stand up, forcing the referee to put an end to the contest in the very first round. Hardwick was carried out from the octagon in a wheelchair.
Hardwick, a former Cage Warriors champion with almost 20 professional fights to his name, said he’d never felt such power in leg kicks.
“Big respect to (Kaue Fernandes), I have honestly never felt kicks like that and I hope nobody else I know or care about has to ever experience pain like it. I was crippled,” Hardwick wrote on Instagram. “Wishing him all the best as he tries to break through into the top 15 of the UFC lightweight division. Obviously not the way I wanted to make my UFC debut 4 days notice, 2 buggered legs and a TKO loss, but it is what it is I am okay, my legs hurt, but I can stand, my heart is a bit broken, but my mind stays strong, it’s back to the drawing board for me, and I’ll be back stronger with a full camp and at featherweight.
“The support has been second to none, honestly been completely overwhelming from my immediate support network, the team I’ve got around me, my amazing family, my beautiful girlfriend and loyal as fuck network of friends and then to the wider network of fans and people genuinely wanting to see me do well and to my absolute shock a French crowd was loudly cheering for an English man was a bit nuts. I love you all. A fire has been lit, and I will be back.”
