The DQ loss came due to an illegal knee strike, but Hardy says the illegal blow that landed on Crowder wasn’t thrown on purpose.
“I take full responsibility,” Hardy said after the event (via MMA Junkie). “It’s not something I did on purpose. Anybody that’s ever met me, or been around me, knows that’s something I wouldn’t do. I just wish we could go back and go into the third round.”
Hardy has now suffered his first loss as a professional MMA fighter and the competitor now holds a record of 3-1-0.
Although some people have labeled Hardy a lot of things over the year, one label that he won’t accept is that of a cheater.
“Show me one time I’ve ever cheated in my life,” Hardy said. “Show me one other lineman or one of their favorite quarterbacks in history that I’ve ever cheated against. Go ask Tom Brady if I cheated when I sacked him. I’m not a cheater. That’s not on my record. That’s not on my resume. Thirty years of life, not one time. Not one time have you ever asked me a question, and I’ve lied to you. Not one time have you ever seen me stand up here, and I told you it wasn’t my fault. I was there. I did it. It’s my responsibility. I’m a grown man. That’s my character.”
There is no word yet on when Hardy will fight next, who previously picked up wins on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series and Xtreme Fight Night.
