Can Harry Hardwick bounce back from an embarrassing loss to Kaue Fernandes? British fighter gears up for career-defining fight vs Marwan Rahiki

Harry Hardwick did not have a dream UFC debut. The British fighter suffered a first-round stoppage defeat to Kaue Fernandes at UFC Paris in September 2025. The loss quickly became one of the most talked-about debuts of the year. Many fans on social media mocked his performance. Some even called it one of the worst UFC debuts in the recent past.

However, the fighter has remained calm despite the backlash. Hardwick is now preparing for a crucial fight against undefeated prospect Marwan Rahiki on March 14. This bout could decide his future in the promotion. After accepting his UFC debut on very short notice, Hardwick now believes the situation will be very different this time. With a full training camp behind him, he hopes to prove that his first performance does not define his career.

Harry Hardwick ready to silence critics in high stakes return

Harry Hardwick admitted that his debut came under unusual circumstances. He explained that he entered the fight believing he would win. However, the situation was complicated because he accepted the UFC opportunity with less than a week to prepare.

Speaking to LowkickMMA, he said that the pressure heading into this fight is real. According to Hardwick, MMA is a ruthless sport where poor performances can quickly cost fighters their contracts. Still, he said, dealing with pressure is nothing new for him. He has experienced similar expectations before during Cage Warriors title fights and main events.

Hardwick also showed respect for his upcoming opponent. Rahiki enters the bout with an undefeated 7-0 record and has built a reputation for being very aggressive in the cage. Hardwick believes that aggression is both dangerous and risky.

Without revealing his exact strategy, Hardwick hinted that he has already studied those weaknesses. He believes Rahiki’s previous opponents may have been too cautious or too emotional during their fights. Hardwick thinks a disciplined approach will allow him to stay in control and exploit mistakes.

One of the biggest differences this time is preparation. For his debut, Hardwick had only five days to get ready. Now he has completed a full training camp. Three weeks before the fight, he travelled to Las Vegas with his brother George Hardwick and fellow fighter Leon Armes.

The group trained at the UFC Performance Institute and spent time at Syndicate MMA alongside veteran fighter Davey Grant.