Former UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy came in 26 pounds over the limit at the weigh-in for his bout against Darko Stosic at Croatian promotion FNC, yet Stosic agreed to proceed and the fight remained on the card. Hardy, who previously competed in the UFC and fought Alexander Volkov, has since transitioned through boxing and holds the Peak Fighting heavyweight title. Both Hardy and Stosic are former UFC fighters.
Greg Hardy missed weight by a staggering 26 pounds ahead of his scheduled heavyweight bout against Darko Stosic at FNC, the Croatian mixed martial arts promotion, on May 29. Despite the massive overage, Stosic agreed to proceed with the contest, and the fight remained on the card.
Hardy, 37, carries a professional MMA record of 7-5 and stands six-foot-five with an 80-inch reach. The American, who trains out of Skills Sport and Fitness, competed in the UFC before transitioning through boxing and most recently holds the Peak Fighting heavyweight title. During his UFC run he faced Alexander Volkov, the Russian heavyweight currently ranked first in the division. Hardy is an aggressive striker who lands 4.79 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, though his grappling output is minimal.
Stosic, 34, brings a 13-4 record into the bout and represents Serbia under the MMA Red Star banner. Standing six feet tall with a 76-inch reach, the orthodox fighter is a credible takedown threat, averaging 3.42 takedowns per 15 minutes inside the UFC. He lands 2.61 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy. Like Hardy, he is a former UFC competitor making his way through the regional scene.
Why it matters
- A 26-pound miss is one of the most extreme weight failures in recent memory, raising serious questions about Hardy's preparation and professional conduct.
- Stosic absorbs all the risk by agreeing to compete against a significantly heavier opponent, with no regulatory protection once he waived the cancellation.
- The bout carries divisional stakes for both men as they seek relevance outside the UFC's heavyweight landscape.
- Hardy's continued struggles to meet basic contractual standards may further complicate his path back to higher-profile competition.
