UK fighter Harry Hardwick details ‘unsensible’ path to the UFC

British mixed martial artist Harry Hardwick is preparing for a second, potentially career-defining, fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Ahead of his bout against the undefeated Marwan Rahiki in Las Vegas, the 31-year-old from Middlesbrough described pursuing a career in MMA as “not a sensible idea”

Hardwick’s journey to the sport’s top promotion was a lengthy one, funded by working at his father’s cafe to support his dream His UFC debut in September 2023, which came over ten years after his first professional fight, was accepted on just five days' notice The fight against Brazil's Kaue Fernandes did not go to plan, as Hardwick suffered a painful first-round loss and had to leave the octagon in a wheelchair

Now, after a full training camp and returning to his preferred featherweight class, Hardwick is expecting a better performance The upcoming fight is critical, as a second consecutive defeat could result in him being cut from the UFC roster Despite the high stakes, the source notes he remains thankful for the opportunity