MMA Fighting has Hasim Rahman Jr. vs. Greg Hardy live round-by-round updates for one of the most anticipated boxing fights of the year at Misfits Boxing 3, which takes place Saturday night at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
The main event is expected to begin around 11:30 p.m. ET on DAZN. Check out our Misfits Boxing 3 results page to find out what happened on the undercard.
Hasim Rahman Jr. has posted a 12-1 career boxing record. He will try to bounce back from his first career loss against Kenzie Morrison via fifth-round TKO this past April.
Rahman was originally scheduled to face Vitor Belfort at the event, but Belfort withdrew this past week over an illness.
Greg Hardy (1-0) will step into the ring for the second time in his career after knocking out Mike Cook in the second round last month.
Hardy (7-5, 1 no-contest) ended his UFC tenure on a three-fight losing skid.
The former UFC fighter has a 94-pound edge on Rahman.
Check out Hasim Rahman Jr. vs. Greg Hardy live blog below.
Round 1: Hardy looks absolutely enormous in the ring compared to Rahman Jr., and he’s trying to use that size early, looking for haymakers at range and uppercuts in tie ups. Rahman Jr. is on his bike and landing some good shots though. Sticking the jab and getting out of there. Same with the left hand. Hardy is trying to cut the ring so he can unload the big guns.
Rahman Jr. lands a fantastic straight left that puts a jolt in Hardy for a moment. If they were the same size, that might have been a fight ender. Hardy gets Rahman Jr. against the ropes and unloads a combo to the body. He pivots out and Rahman Jr. is on his bike again, poking at range. Short time and Hardy gets Rahman Jr. cornered but Rahman Jr. lands a right straight and left hook that dazes Hardy! Hardy keeps pushing forward but Rahman Jr. scoots away.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Rahman Jr.
Round 2: Hardy looks a little slower to start the second round but so does Rahman Jr. He’s staying away but landing fewer shots now. Hardy stalking the smaller man and he gets Rahman Jr. against the ropes. Hardy starts unloading and a big shot lands that has Rahman Jr. in all sorts of trouble! Rahman Jr. walking along the rope and covering up while power shots come firing in! The referee is taking a close looks and Rahman Jr. fires back a shot! Hardy can’t get the finish and he may be spent now because he steps off and when he does, Rahman Jr. loses his mouthpiece. Rahman Jr. is very clearly still hurt but Hardy is TIRED now. Both men trying to recover as Hardy slowly chases Rahman Jr. around the ring.
Rahman Jr. steps in and gets dropped! Big shot from Hardy sits Rahman Jr. down but he beats the count. Short time and Hardy trying to finish the drill but Rahman Jr. sits down on a left hand that staggers Hardy just before the bell! CHAOS!
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8 Hardy, 19-18 overall.
Round 3: Slow pace to start the third. Rahman Jr. is not looking great and early on Hardy stuns Rahman Jr. again! He’s way too big in there and every time he does land it sends Rahman Jr. stumbling. Rahman Jr. keeps his feet but he looks like a different man. Hardy reinvigorated and he’s on the attack now. Rahman Jr. all defense. Hardy trying to find a big right hand but can’t quite set it up. He’s best shots have come on the counter, oddly enough.
Hardy now slowing down considerably. Rahman Jr. can’t take advantage though, and we head to the final round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Hardy, 29-27 Hardy overall.
Round 4: Hardy got some pep in his step for the final frame. He’s taking the center to start. Rahman Jr. has some more to offer as well. But Hardy lands a couple of very nice right hands over the top of Rahman Jr. lefts. That immediately gets Rahman Jr. rethinking his strategy and Hardy staying on top of him, pumping his own jab. Rahman Jr. seems to be okay with just surviving the fight now. He’s offering nothing much in the way of offense and simply jogging around the ring to avoid Hardy. Hardy is too slow of foot and not crafty enough to counter Rahman Jr. though. With 10 seconds left, Rahman Jr. fires in a combo and we get an exchange but there’s nothing doing and we go to the cards.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Hardy, 39-36 Hardy overall.
OFFICIAL DECISION: Greg Hardy def. Hasim Rahman Jr. by unanimous decision (39-36, 39-36, 39-36)
