In one of the rarest circumstances seen in the Octagon, a finish via leg-kick helped Kaue Fernandes get a first-round victory, defeating Harry Hardwick during the UFC Paris preliminary card.
Leg kicks seemed to be the focus of Fernandes’ attack, and he noticed the damage those kicks were doing. Less than two minutes into the fight, and Hardwick was notably limping around the Octagon as he was trying to move and attack Fernandes to stay in the fight.
One leg kick in particular sent Hardwick into a roll on the Octagon mat. Referee Herb Dean waited for Hardwick to stand, but he was unable to do so in a timely manner, resulting in Dean calling a TKO.
In what may have been an Octagon first, Hardwick was seen leaving the Octagon in a wheelchair.
Kaue Fernandes Scores First-Round Finish With Leg Kicks At UFC Paris
UFC Paris keeps its full slate of matchups intact.
On Monday, Fares Ziam revealed that he was forced to pull out from his scheduled lightweight clash with Kaue Fernandes on the upcoming Fight Night main card, citing the tragic passing of his grandmother. With “Smile Killer” out, Fernandesâ situation remained uncertain, with speculation on whether he would stay on the card or be rebooked later.
UFC Paris Bout Falls Apart After Fighter Steps Away Due To Family Tragedy https://t.co/YqIIoLVSiu
However, per a recent report from Al Zullino, Fernandes will remain on the UFC Paris card after securing a new opponent, as Cage Warriors featherweight champion Harry Hardwick has stepped up on just five daysâ notice to salvage the matchup.
With Fares Ziam out, the UFC is working to keep KauĂȘ Fernandes on the #UFCParis card, pairing him with Cage Warriors featherweight champion Harry Hardwick, multiple sources told me. pic.twitter.com/Dlaqky4GRM
Hardwick last competed at Cage Warriors 186 this past March, where he successfully defended his 145-pound title with a technical decision victory over Javier Garcia. âHoudiniâ is riding a nine-fight unbeaten streak and boasts a professional record of 13-3-1, with seven of his victories coming by way of finish.
Meanwhile, Fernandes was last in action at UFC London this past March, where he picked up a unanimous decision win over Guram Kutateladze, extending his momentum inside the promotion. The 30-year-old Brazilian first entered the Octagon at UFC SĂŁo Paulo in November 2023, dropping a razor-close split decision to Marc Diakiese in his debut. He now carries a professional record of 10-2.
UFC Paris takes place this Saturday, September 6, at the Accor Arena in France with a stacked lineup of 14 bouts, featuring French talent throughout the card. The Fight Night will be headlined by a high-stakes middleweight clash between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, a matchup that could carry major title implications.
Meanwhile, the co-main event pits French favorite BenoĂźt Saint Denis against surging lightweight prospect Mauricio Ruffy. Elsewhere on the card, seasoned featherweight Patricio Pitbull is set to welcome former two-division OKTAGON champion Losene Keita for his highly anticipated UFC debut.
Here is the confirmed lineup for UFC Paris:
Middleweight bout: Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho
Lightweight bout: Benoit Saint Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy
Lightweight bout: Bolaji Oki vs. Mason Jones
Light heavyweight bout: Modestas Bukauskas vs. Paul Craig
Featherweight bout: Patricio Pitbull vs. Losene Keita
Lightweight bout: Kaue Fernandes vs. Harry Hardwick
Featherweight bout: William Gomis vs. Robert Ruchala
Light heavyweight bout: Oumar Sy vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Heavyweight bout: Marcin Tybura vs. Ante Delija
Welterweight bout: Rhys McKee vs. Axel Sola
Welterweight bout: Sam Patterson vs. Trey Waters
Middleweight bout: Brad Tavares vs. Robert Bryczek
Welterweight bout: Andreas Gustafsson vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov
