UFC Vegas 12: Greg Hardy vs. Maurice Greene Picks, Odds, and Predictions
2020-10-31 23:00:00 EDT
Maurice Greene and Greg Hardy fight Saturday in UFC Vegas 12 at the UFC APEX.
Maurice Greene enters this fight with a 9-4 record and has won 56 percent of his fights by submission. Greene has won four of his last six fights and is coming off a June win over Gian Villante. Greene is averaging 4.31 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 44 percent. Greene is averaging zero takedowns with an accuracy percentage of zero percent. Greene is coming off a third round submission win at UFC Vegas 4 where he landed 64 total strikes and 45 percent of his significant strikes. Four of Greene’s last six wins have come by submission, and he’s 4-2 under the UFC banner overall. Greene is a massive heavyweight at 6’7” with an 82-inch reach, and he has clear knockout power despite not being the most accurate striker in the division. Greene is also effective in the clinch and will thitem hard knees to the body. Greene comes from a kickboxing background and has shown decent strike defense through six UFC fights. Greene has a blue belt in BJJ and all five of his submission victories have come via a triangle choke. This will be Greene’s fourth career fight in Las Vegas.
Greg Hardy enters this fight with a 6-2-1 record and has won 83 percent of his fights by knockout. Hardy has split his last six fights and is coming off a May win over Yorgan De Castro. Hardy is averaging 4.48 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 48 percent. Hardy is averaging zero takedowns with an accuracy percentage of zero percent. Hardy is coming off a decision win at UFC 249 where he landed 66 total strikes and 44 percent of his significant strikes. Hardy mixed in his leg kicks well and showed better conditioning than his opponent, as he ate just nine combined significant shots in the last two rounds. Hardy is an impressive athlete and has clear power in his hands that gives him a punchers chance against anybody, and he’s made strides since turning pro a little over two years ago. Hardy has gotten his conditioning up since when he first started fighting, and he has more versatility with his stirring ability, as he mixes in knees and leg kicks along with his strong overhand. Hardy still has to improve in the clinch and show some sort of ground game if he’s going to take that next step, but he’s been coming along and has made great strides under American Top Team. Getting a decision win and being rather convincing in the victory shows that Hardy is starting to get comfortable in his new sport. This will be Hardy’s third career fight in Las Vegas.
Greene could cash as a big underdog in this fight if he’s able to get it to the ground, as his wrestling, scrambling and submission game is obviously clearly better than Hardy. However, Hardy is the better standup striker, has shown more balance in his stand up in his last few fights and I’d even say he has a conditioning edge as well. As long as Hardy avoids the takedown early, he should be able to touch Greene just enough in the later rounds to cruise to another victory. Hardy wins this fight as long as he stays on the feet, and he’s not the easiest fighter to takedown regardless.
Give me Hardy in a decision to shave down the expensive ML price.
