Weigh-in fiasco costs Hardy 20 percent of purse prior to Bellator 194
A misunderstanding with the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation has lightened Heather Hardy's fight purse by 20 percent.
Hardy stepped off the scale thinking she'd hit the flyweight mark for her Bellator 194 date with Ana Julaton at Thursday's weigh-ins in Connecticut, only to be told she missed the divisional limit by a quarter-pound after she'd already done several interviews and begun rehydrating, MMAjunkie's Matt Erickson reports.
The fighters competing on the bill were all allowed an extra two hours to make weight if a first attempt proved unsuccessful, but Hardy wasn't given the chance to strip down and tip the scales again by the sanctioning body's president Mike Mazzulli.
It initially appeared Hardy had made the 126-pound limit, but she was finally told she hadn't more than an hour after the ritual had concluded. Mazzulli later told Erickson he decided to rescind her right to step on the scale while shielded by a towel - as is customary under such circumstances - based on her demeanor at the weigh-ins.
"It was never said she was good,” Mazzulli said. "She got on the scale, (and) she was 126.25 … she was a quarter-pound over. At that point, I explained to her - after evaluating her and seeing how she was – that she was not going to lose anymore. The fight’s not going to happen (if she has to lose anymore) - I’ll cancel the fight. Fighter safety is the most important at Mohegan, and I make sure of it.
"I evaluated her and I felt I didn’t even want her to (remove her clothes to use the towel), because at that point she wasn’t even speaking to me (on the scale). I made the decision as the commissioner that I wasn’t going to put her on the scale with no clothes on - that’s how concerned I was about her. And my doctors will re-evaluate her tonight at the (ceremonial) weigh-in, as well."
Despite his concern, the fight will still proceed at a 126.25 catchweight on Friday, with Hardy forfeiting 20 percent of her pay for the supposed transgression. She's since told MMA Fighting's Marc Raimondi she won't be appealing the commission's decision.