Brain Damage Forces Hardy From BKFC 61

Brain damage can end the career of any fighter — even the “toughest b*tch out there.”

Former WBO featherweight titleholder Heather Hardy, who also competed for Bellator MMA, has withdrawn from her upcoming BKFC 61 headliner opposite bareknuckle champion Christine Ferea, previously scheduled for May 11 at Mohegan Sun.

“My fight for May 11 is off,” Hardy wrote on Instagram. “After my fight last summer with Amanda [Serrano], my vision remained blurred for a few days. I went for an MRI and to get my eyes checked while I was still in [Texas] and it was diagnosed the after effects of a concussion. [In six to eight] months, I should be fine. So basically I needed a fight, and it never got better. My daughter is in college. Everyone thinks I made millions in my career but I didn’t. I went paycheck to paycheck keeping that kid in the best neighborhood so she could go to the best schools. And I needed to take the fight, so long story short a month into training for Christine and everything got worse with my sight.”

“I was down to 123 pounds because I couldn’t eat, I wasn’t sleeping, I was so weak,” Hardy continued. “I hadn’t told anyone how bad it was, not my boyfriend not my coaches. I thought I could make it through the ten minute fight, but after a very light sparring session i couldn’t see sh*t for two days. I didn’t eat or sleep Friday to Monday, and I knew I was too weak to do this sh*t. After finally seeing a doctor, he said I’ve had too many concussions. When you have a concussion, a piece of your brain dies and you never get it back. Imagine that? In ten years I’ve had too much brain damage. I can’t get any more or else I won’t be able to see. No running, no jogging, no jumping rope, and no getting hit in the head.”

With Hardy no longer competing this weekend in Uncasville, the promotion has elevated the lightweight showdown between Jimmie Rivera and Daniel Straus to the FUBO Sports main event. Co-headlining the card is the bantamweight battle pitting Ryan Reber against Anthony Foye.

Hardy did not use the word “retirement” but at age 42, “The Heat” is likely done with her combat sports career.