Heather Hardy returns to fight Taylor Turner at Bellator 222

MMAfighting.com

Heather Hardy’s Bellator business is far from over.

After returning to boxing in 2018, “The Heat” is making her way back to cagefighting on June 14 when she fights Taylor Turner (3-5) on the main card of Bellator 222 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. MMA Fighting confirmed the matchup with Bellator officials following an initial report by Newsday.

This will be Hardy’s first MMA fight since last February when she defeated fellow boxing transplant Ana Julaton by unanimous decision at Bellator 194 to improve to 2-1 in her new sport. After that, Hardy took a pair of boxing bouts, defeating Iranda Paolo Torres and rival Shelly Vincent, both by unanimous decision. The latter victory earned Hardy the vacant WBO featherweight championship and she remained undefeated in boxing at 22-0 (1 NC).

Hardy will face Turner, a Tennessee-based fighter who is coming off of back-to-back first-round finishes of Anastasia Bruce and Ashley Samples in the Valor Fights promotion.

Bellator 222, which features Lyoto Machida vs. Chael Sonnen, and Rory MacDonald vs. Neiman Gracie in the headlining spots, as well as a bantamweight rematch between Bellator champion Darrion Caldwell and Rizin FF champion Kyoji Horiguchi, will air live on DAZN.