- Deen The Great vs. Walid Sharks – Deen The Great wins by TKO, Round 3
- Josh Brueckner vs. Chase De Moor – Josh Brueckner wins by TKO (Corner Retirement), Round 2
- Hasim Rahman Jr. vs. Greg Hardy – Greg Hardy wins by Unanimous Decision (39-36, 39-36, 39-36)
- King Kenny vs. DK Money – King Kenny wins by KO, Round 1
- Faze Temper vs. Overtflow – Faze Temper wins by KO, Round 1
- Fangs vs. Barbie
- Ice Poseidon vs. Brandon Buckingham – Brandon Buckingham wins by TKO, Round 1
- Minikon vs. Nick Joseph – Minikon wins by TKO
Aftermath and Future Implications
Greg Hardy’s victory over Hasim Rahman Jr. marked his second professional boxing win and was a significant moment for the former NFL and UFC star, especially considering the short notice. His post-fight declaration, “No camp, no f—ks given, I’m ready for anybody. Give me some notice, let me lose some weight. Imma hurt everybody. This is my division now,” underscored his confidence in the boxing world. Hardy has since continued his combat sports career, including a professional boxing loss to Gregory Corbin in September 2023, bringing his boxing record to 2-1, and also competing in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
For Hasim Rahman Jr., the loss to Hardy, following his TKO defeat to James McKenzie Morrison earlier in 2022, marked a challenging period in his professional career, leaving him with a record of 12-2. However, Rahman Jr. has since demonstrated resilience, rebounding with a three-fight winning streak as of December 2024
In an unexpected turn of events, Vitor Belfort withdrew from the highly anticipated MF DAZN X Series 003 event, originally scheduled for Saturday, November 19, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Belfort, a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and accomplished mixed martial artist, was forced to pull out of his fight against Hasim Rahman Jr. due to contracting COVID-19 on November 14, 2022. Fans and organizers alike wished Belfort a speedy recovery and looked forward to his return to the ring in 2023.
Greg Hardy Replaces Vitor Belfort
Stepping in on just four days’ notice was former UFC Heavyweight Greg Hardy, who was set to face Hasim Rahman Jr. in what promised to be an electrifying matchup. The MF DAZN X Series 003 card, already stacked with exciting bouts, included Deen The Great vs. Walid Sharks, Josh Brueckner vs. Chase De Moor, and Faze Temper vs. Overtflow. The event took place at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, and was broadcast live worldwide on DAZN.
“I’m excited, man. This is my chance to show that I belong in the boxing world,” Hardy said ahead of the fight. “I know plenty about the Rahman name in boxing, and I know he was preparing for Vitor, but I’m definitely confident and prepared to show people I can box.”
The Contenders: A Clash of Athletic Prowess and Boxing Pedigree
Greg Hardy, nicknamed the “Prince of War,” brought an impressive athletic pedigree to the ring. A former NFL Defensive End for the Carolina Panthers, Hardy had a standout season in 2013, earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors. He then transitioned to mixed martial arts, securing seven UFC victories—six of them by stoppage. Hardy had only recently made his professional boxing debut on October 8, 2022, securing a second-round knockout victory against Mike Cook, making his record 1-0 prior to facing Rahman Jr. With his size advantage and proven knockout power, Hardy presented a fresh challenge for Rahman Jr. Joining him in his corner was former Heavyweight Champion Shannon Briggs.
Hasim Rahman Jr., the son of two-time world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman Sr., carried a significant boxing lineage. He turned professional in 2017 after compiling over 100 amateur bouts. Entering this fight, Rahman Jr.’s professional boxing record stood at 12 wins and 1 loss, with 6 of his victories coming by knockout. His sole professional defeat before this bout was a fifth-round TKO against James McKenzie Morrison in April 2022, in a contest for the vacant WBC USNBC heavyweight title. Rahman Jr. had also gained mainstream attention earlier in 2022 when he was scheduled to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul at Madison Square Garden, but that highly anticipated bout was canceled due to weight issues on Rahman Jr.’s part. Despite the short notice for Hardy, Rahman Jr. was widely considered the favorite due to his extensive boxing background and experience against professional opponents.
Fight Night in Austin: Action and Upsets
The MF DAZN X Series 003 delivered an evening of memorable action. In the co-main event, Greg Hardy faced Hasim Rahman Jr. The fight was a four-round slugfest, characterized by both men throwing heavy shots from the opening bell. Hardy, who weighed in at 320 pounds compared to Rahman Jr.’s 226 pounds, utilized his considerable size and power advantage throughout the bout. In the second round, Hardy floored Rahman Jr. with a powerful right hand. To his credit, Rahman Jr. quickly rose and managed to rock Hardy himself by the end of the round. Despite Rahman Jr.’s impressive chin, Hardy continued to press, ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory with all three judges scoring the fight 39-36 in his favor. Hardy’s win was considered a significant upset given Rahman Jr.’s professional boxing experience.
The main event of the evening saw Deen The Great deliver a stunning comeback victory against Walid Sharks in a contest for the vacant MFB lightweight title. Deen The Great was dropped twice in the second round but rallied spectacularly in the third, securing a TKO win at 1:55 of the round. In other notable bouts, Josh Brueckner defeated Chase De Moor by TKO via corner retirement after the second round in a fight for the ICB International heavyweight title. King Kenny secured a swift first-round knockout victory over DK Money at 1:34, successfully defending his ICB International cruiserweight title. Faze Temper also made quick work of Overtflow, winning by knockout just 30 seconds into the first round. Brandon Buckingham defeated Ice Poseidon by TKO in the first round, and Minikon secured a TKO win over Nick Joseph due to exhaustion.
Full Updated MF DAZN X Series 003 Card:
- Deen The Great vs. Walid Sharks – Deen The Great wins by TKO, Round 3
- Josh Brueckner vs. Chase De Moor – Josh Brueckner wins by TKO (Corner Retirement), Round 2
- Hasim Rahman Jr. vs. Greg Hardy – Greg Hardy wins by Unanimous Decision (39-36, 39-36, 39-36)
- King Kenny vs. DK Money – King Kenny wins by KO, Round 1
- Faze Temper vs. Overtflow – Faze Temper wins by KO, Round 1
- Fangs vs. Barbie
- Ice Poseidon vs. Brandon Buckingham – Brandon Buckingham wins by TKO, Round 1
- Minikon vs. Nick Joseph – Minikon wins by TKO
Aftermath and Future Implications
Greg Hardy’s victory over Hasim Rahman Jr. marked his second professional boxing win and was a significant moment for the former NFL and UFC star, especially considering the short notice. His post-fight declaration, “No camp, no f—ks given, I’m ready for anybody. Give me some notice, let me lose some weight. Imma hurt everybody. This is my division now,” underscored his confidence in the boxing world. Hardy has since continued his combat sports career, including a professional boxing loss to Gregory Corbin in September 2023, bringing his boxing record to 2-1, and also competing in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
For Hasim Rahman Jr., the loss to Hardy, following his TKO defeat to James McKenzie Morrison earlier in 2022, marked a challenging period in his professional career, leaving him with a record of 12-2. However, Rahman Jr. has since demonstrated resilience, rebounding with a three-fight winning streak as of December 2024
