UFC 264: Greg Hardy vows to make Tai Tuivasa pay for ‘quitter’ sledge
American heavyweight Greg Hardy has vowed to show Tai Tuivasa exactly what he thinks of the Mt Druitt slugger’s claim he quits in fights, warning: “I’m going to break his face, accordingly”.
On the eve of their UFC 264 showdown in Las Vegas this Sunday, 32-year-old Hardy insists Tuivasa will become the latest scalp on his journey to a host of blockbuster fights in both MMA and boxing.
Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, Tuivasa suggested the former NFL bad boy who joined the UFC in 2019 was not a fighter, but a “quitter” who “talks too much s…”.
“Greg Hardy is a quitter,” Tuivasa fired. “You can just see it in the guy.
“He gives up.
“And I’m going to make him quit again in July. The guy just isn’t a fighter.”
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Greg Hardy poses up after his victory against Maurice Greene. Picture: Zuffa LLCSource:Getty Images
To which Hardy now says what?
“Everyone can have an opinion,” the former Carolina Panthers defensive end said this week from the world’s fight capital. “But I’d love to know what fight he’s talking about.
“Was it (against Alexander Volkov), when I went three rounds with someone he isn’t even qualified to get in the ring with?
“Or was it when I’ve taken kicks to the face, or walked into Russia on 22 days notice and fought with a broken hand?
“I’m not sure where I’ve quit. But everyone is entitled to an opinion and if he’s looking for an enemy, I’m now his guy.”
Asked why he initially called out Tuivasa, who is coming off consecutive first round KO wins, Hardy continued: “I wanted a banger.”
Greg Hardy has vowed retribution for Tai Tuivasa’s sledge. Picture: Zuffa LLCSource:Getty Images
“I’m here to go to war, to be entertaining.
“And I wanted a reprieve from that game of ‘oh, let’s see how long it takes to get Greg Hardy down. Let’s see how many punches someone can take before getting me down’.
“Instead, I wanted a man who is coming out there to take my head off.
“And I am going to still assume he is a man.
“Because, yeah, he’s made a couple of comments that now make me think otherwise.
“But I’ll pretend I didn’t hear all that. Still give this guy the respect he deserves.
“And then I’m going to break his face accordingly.”
Asked if there was any chance Tuivasa may look to wrestle against him on the card headlined by Irish megastar Conor McGregor, Hardy continued: “Oh, I hope not.
“But you know what? It always happens.
“Eventually, they all get sick of me punching them in the face. Then, they start shooting for my shoestrings. But I hope and pray (Tuivasa) is the savage I think he is.”
Tai Tuivasa reacts after his win over Harry Hunsucker in March. Picture: Zuffa LLC/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
Elsewhere, Hardy confirmed he was still making preparations for a heavyweight boxing switch, saying he would eventually like to compete between both sports.
“Greg Hardy the boxer is coming,” he said. “The Prince of War is definitely coming to boxing.
“But I’ve still got time to stretch my legs.
“On this journey, I’ve had to humble myself. Take my time and see what I can learn.
“Because in MMA, man, there are a lot of talkers.
“Like the guy I’m fighting next, they want to run their mouth.
“But they don’t want to put in the work.
“And I don’t want to be that guy.
“So I’m taking my time, putting in the hours and working on my craft so that when I do debut in boxing, it will just as devastating as when I came into MMA.
“It will be a different Greg Hardy every single time I walk to the ring.”
Originally published as‘I’ll break his face’: American plans payback for Bam Bam sledge
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