Janay Harding Explained

Janay Harding
Other Names:Hollowpoint
Birth Date:28 September 1994
Birth Place:Christchurch, New Zealand
Nationality:New Zealander
Weight Lb:145
Weight Class:Featherweight
Reach:70.0 in
Style:Karate
Fighting Out Of:Sydney
Years Active:2014–present
Mma Kowin:4
Mma Decwin:2
Mma Koloss:2
Mma Subloss:1
Mma Decloss:5
Sherdog:164517

Janay Harding (born September 28, 1994) is a New Zealand mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division. She is most notable for her time in Bellator MMA.

Background

Harding was born in Christchurch, New Zealand but moved to Australia's Gold Coast at the age of ten when her father, Geoffrey Charlton, passed away.[1] Starting martial arts at a young age, Harding earned a black belt in karate at the age of 14.[2]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Harding started her professional MMA career in 2014, compiled a 3–2 record, though the two losses on her professional record came against current UFC fighter Jessica-Rose Clark and previous Bellator title challenger Arlene Blencowe, while also losing to Megan Anderson in an amateur bout. Harding made her international debut in May 2017, travelling to Hong Kong where she secured a second round stoppage over Ramona Pascual.[3] [4]

Bellator MMA

Signing with Bellator MMA in December 2017, Harding made her promotional debut against Amber Leibrock at Bellator 199 on May 12, 2018. She lost the bout via unanimous decision.[5]

Harding faced Sinead Kavanagh at Bellator 207 on October 12, 2018. She won the bout after it was stopped due to a cut.[6]

Harding faced Marina Mokhnatkina on March 29, 2019 at Bellator 219. She won the bout via unanimous decision.[7]

Harding faced Amanda Bell at Bellator 233 on November 8, 2019. She lost the fight via third-round knockout.[8]

Harding faced Jessy Miele at Bellator 251 on November 5, 2020. She won the bout via unanimous decision.[9]

Harding faced Leah McCourt on May 21, 2021 at Bellator 259.[10] At the weigh-ins, McCourt weighed in at 149.4 pounds, three and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and McCourt was fined a percentage of her purse, which went to Harding.[11] After looking dominant in the second round with her striking, Harding was caught with an upkick while trying to pass McCourt's guard and fell into a triangle choke, losing the bout via submission.[12]

Harding faced Dayana Silva on April 23, 2022 at Bellator 279.[13] She lost the bout via unanimous decision.[14] [15]

Harding faced Sinead Kavanagh in a rematch on February 25, 2023 at Bellator 291.[16] She lost the fight by unanimous decision.[17]

Boxing

Harding faced Tayla Harris for the vacant Australian female super-welterweight title at The Melbourne Pavilion on November 22, 2019. She lost the bout via TKO in the 4th round.[18]

Mixed martial arts record

|-

|Loss|align=center|6–8|Jamie Edenden|Decision (unanimous)|Beatdown Promotions 5||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Eatons Hill, Queensland, Australia||-|Loss|align=center| 6–7|Sinead Kavanagh|Decision (unanimous)|Bellator 291||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Dublin, Ireland||-|Loss|align=center| 6–6| Dayana Silva|Decision (unanimous)| Bellator 279| |align=center|3|align=center|5:00| Honolulu, Hawaii, United States| |-|Loss|align=center| 6–5|Leah McCourt|Submission (triangle choke)|Bellator 259 ||align=center|2|align=center|2:42|Uncasville, Connecticut, United States||-| Win| align=center| 6–4| Jessy Miele| Decision (unanimous)| Bellator 251| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Uncasville, Connecticut, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 5–4| Amanda Bell|TKO (punches)|Bellator 233||align=center| 3|align=center| 4:44|Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States||-| Win| align=center| 5–3| Marina Mokhnatkina| Decision (unanimous)| Bellator 219| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Temecula, California, United States||-| Win| align=center|4–3| Sinead Kavanagh|TKO (cut)| Bellator 207| | align=center|1| align=center|5:00| Uncasville, Connecticut, United States||-| Loss| align=center| 3–3| Amber Leibrock| Decision (unanimous)| Bellator 199| | align=center|3| align=center|5:00| San Jose, California| |-| Win| align=center| 3–2| Ramona Pascual| TKO (elbows and punches)| Fight Factory Gym: E-1 World Championship||align=Center|2|align=center|1:43|Hong Kong| |-| Loss| align=center| 2–2| Arlene Blencowe|KO (punches)|Legend MMA 1||align=center|1|align=center|1:08|Gold Coast, Queensland Australia| |-| Loss| align=center| 2–1| Jessica-Rose Clark|Decision (unanimous)|Eternal MMA 19||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia| |-| Win| align=center| 2–0| Jess Doueihi| TKO (punches)| Brace 36| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:26| Sydney, Australia| |-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Helen Malone| TKO (punches)| Eternal MMA 5| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:59| Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia||-[19]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Harding's struggle with father's passing. 2021-05-11. Māori Television. en.
  2. Web site: Bellator's Harding trip home worth it. 2021-05-11. Māori Television. en.
  3. Web site: Janay Harding victorious in international debut – Fight News Australia. 2021-05-11. en.
  4. Web site: Janay Harding signs with Bellator MMA – Fight News Australia. 2021-05-11. en.
  5. Web site: Tucker. Bryan. 2018-05-12. Bellator 199 Results: Bader vs. King Mo. 2021-05-11. MMA Fighting. en.
  6. Web site: Tucker. Bryan. 2018-10-12. Bellator 207 Results: Mitrione vs. Bader. 2021-05-11. MMA Fighting. en.
  7. Web site: Tucker. Bryan. 2019-03-29. Bellator 219 Results: Awad vs. Girtz. 2021-04-26. MMA Fighting. en.
  8. Web site: Tucker. Bryan. 2019-11-08. Bellator 233 Results: Salter vs. Van Steenis. 2021-05-11. MMA Fighting. en.
  9. Web site: Marrocco. Steven. 2020-11-05. Bellator 251 results: Corey Anderson manhandles Melvin Manhoef for second-round finish. 2021-05-11. MMA Fighting. en.
  10. News: McCourt to fight Harding in May. en-GB. BBC Sport. 2021-05-11.
  11. Web site: 2021-05-20. Bellator 259 weigh-in results: Two fighters come in heavy, including co-headliner. 2021-05-20. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  12. Web site: 2021-05-21. Leah McCourt turns tables with upkick, submits Janay Harding in wild Bellator 259 finish. 2021-05-22. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  13. Web site: King . Kristen . 2022-04-04 . Fights on Tap: Gegard Mousasi vs. Johnny Eblen among 9 Bellator bouts announced . 2022-04-19 . Bloody Elbow . en.
  14. Web site: Sherdog.com . Bellator 279 ‘Cyborg vs. Blencowe 2’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring . 2022-04-24 . Sherdog . en.
  15. Web site: 2022-04-24 . Arlene Blencowe & Janay Harding both lose via decision at Bellator 279 . 2022-04-24 . Fight News Australia . en-GB.
  16. Web site: Markey . Ross . 2022-11-07 . Report – Sinead Kavanagh vs. Janay Harding II booked for Bellator Dublin on February 24. . 2022-11-08 . FightBook MMA . en-US.
  17. Web site: Rush . Dylan . Bellator 291: Sinead Kavanagh Gets Revenge in Rematch with Janay Harding . Cageside Press . 26 February 2023 . 25 February 2023.
  18. Web site: Tayla Harris obliterates boxing rival. 2021-05-11. Morning Bulletin. en.
  19. Web site: Sherdog.com. Janay Harding. 2020-08-07. Sherdog.