Harry Hardwick endured a brutal setback at UFC Vegas 114, leaving the arena in an ambulance after suffering a broken jaw during his fight against Marwan Rahiki.
Despite the painful injury, Harry Hardwick remained in good spirits while addressing fans shortly after the fight.
The British fighter earned a $100,000 Fight of the Night bonus for his war with Rahiki, but the bout ended in heartbreaking fashion. Between the second and third rounds, Hardwick told his corner that his jaw had snapped. His coaches ultimately decided to stop the fight rather than risk further damage.
Following the fight, Harry Hardwick shared a video from inside the ambulance, reassuring supporters that he was doing okay despite the serious injury.
“I’m OK. My jaw is obviously f*cked,” Hardwick said in the video.“That’s all right. I like soup. I like smoothies and I like milkshakes and I like energy drinks. So all these things, I can still have.”
He also took a moment to reflect on the bigger picture, emphasizing that he remains grateful for the life he has.
“Life’s good. I cannot complain about my position. I have an amazing, beautiful girlfriend, good health, good family, good support network. No one needs to cry for me. I’m OK.”
Harry Hardwick entered the bout with something to prove after a difficult UFC debut. The former Cage Warriors champion stepped into the Octagon on short notice in his first appearance and suffered a first-round loss after absorbing damaging calf kicks.
This time, however, Hardwick had a full training camp and came prepared for a fight.The featherweight clash quickly turned into a back-and-forth battle as both fighters exchanged heavy shots over two rounds. Rahiki appeared to be gaining control as the fight progressed, but Hardwick refused to back down and continued firing back with strikes of his own.
Eventually, the damage caught up with him.When the fighters returned to their corners after round two, Hardwick informed his team that his jaw had been broken, forcing the fight to be stopped.
“I’m obviously gutted but that’s the sport I’m in,” Hardwick said.“I wanted to win but it is what it is. Hats off to Marwan. He threw the shot that broke my jaw. He did it on purpose. It’s not luck. It is what it is.”
The loss drops Harry Hardwick to 0–2 in the UFC, but his gritty performance at UFC Vegas 114 earned respect from fans and analysts alike.
Hardwick will now focus on recovery before returning to competition. Given the heart he displayed against Rahiki, many expect the promotion to give him another opportunity once his jaw heals.
