For the second time in history, the sport of mixed martial arts is being contested in the historic Madison Square Garden in New York City.
On Saturday, Bellator MMA hosted one of their most stacked cards in the promotion’s history.
Undefeated professional boxer Heather Hardy made her MMA debut at Bellator 180. She competed against Alice Yauger in a flyweight fight.
Both women threw punches to start out the fight. Yauger went for a takedown, but Hardy stayed on her feet. Hardy began throwing combinations of punches and kicks. Yauger was busted open by a right hand. Yauger then briefly had success inside a clinch, but Hardy escaped. Throughout the round, Yauger used her knees as her primary weapon. Hardy also got busted open in the first round. The round ended with Yauger landing knees in a clinch.
Yauger engaged a clinch to start the middle round. Hardy quickly escaped and landed multiple kicks. Both women traded punches throughout the round. Hardy appeared to have landed the more clean shots. For the majority of the round, Hardy got the better of the striking exchanges between the two women.
Hardy dropped Yauger at the start of the final round. Yauger quickly got up and began to brawl. Hardy kept her composure and continued to land strikes. Yauger later landed a clean head kick. Hardy later had a nasty cut opened on her left eye from an accidental headbutt. Both women traded punches in the final minute Hardy dropped Yauger but let her get back to her feet. In the final seconds, the referee stepped in and awarded Hardy the TKO victory.
Official Result:
Heather Hardy def. Alice Yauger by TKO (Round 3)
