This hype quickly fizzled away in the first few exchanges, where Fernandes made a home for his crushing calf kicks…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Per Haljestam-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Hardwick, known for his stalk-and-brawl style, was quickly stifled by Fernandes’ kicks. The Brazilian kept an extremely wide stance and intercepted Hardwick’s advances with thudding kicks to the calf, which promptly reddened and swelled with pain.<\/p>\n
They quickly paid dividends, as Hardwick struggled to conceal his anguish. Before long, a swift kick by Fernandes left Hardwick hopping, and soon he crumbled to the floor, where referee Herb Dean called the fight off.<\/p>\n
Kaue Fernandes cripples Harry Hardwick with savage leg kicks. <\/p>\n
Herb Dean calls off the fight because Hardwick can no longer walk or stand. #UFCParis<\/a> #UFC<\/a> #MMA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Q3bL04PBuK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Dave Gravity (@AgainstMadness) September 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Fernandes vs. Hardwick was the nineteenth leg kick knockout in the UFC. Fernandes almost did the same in his last appearance against Guram Kutateladze. Back-to-back leg kick knockouts would have inserted Fernandes into an exclusive club for fighters with two or more leg kick knockouts in the UFC.<\/p>\n Hardwick exited the UFC Octagon in a wheelchair after his legs were battered.<\/p>\n Harry Hardwick a d\u00fb quitter l’octogone en chaise roulante \ud83d\ude33#UFCParis<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/esKwW0Uiwv<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/SJgztniDko<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 La Sueur (@LaSueur_off) September 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n It’s back to the drawing board for the British scrapper, who gets the benefit of the doubt having stepped in on five days’ notice.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0UFC calls in 21-year-old fighter on less than two weeks’ notice for Noche UFC debut<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Ilia Topuria\u2019s brother reportedly set for UFC fight with dangerous KO artist<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0UFC GOAT receives massive $10 million payout from UFC antitrust lawsuit settlement<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Bo Nickal returns after first MMA loss for dangerous next fight at UFC 322<\/a><\/p>\n Stick with\u00a0MMAKnockout<\/a>\u00a0for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n Follow MMAKnockout on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n