Williams obliterates Hardy's nose for doctor stoppage win at Bellator 185

Taekwondo beat boxing bloody on Friday.

Kristina Williams tuned Heather Hardy up for a round and change before breaking her nose with a high kick to take the flyweight clash of striking specialists by doctor's stoppage, two minutes into Round 2 at Bellator 185 in Connecticut.

The pair righted a tepid night of fights with a spirited scrap, as Hardy fearlessly pressed forward and swung leather with reckless abandon while Williams chewed at her lead leg with kicks and left the world champion boxer leaking crimson by the end of Round 1.

Williams continued to light Hardy up with a varied attack in the second stanza, capping the lopsided striking duel with a high kick that blew a bloodied Hardy's nose to powder, leaving referee Todd Anderson no choice but to call in the cageside physician. To the surprise of no one, he ruled Hardy unfit to continue:

The stoppage marked Williams' first win as a pro, while Hardy suffered her first taste of defeat in 22 pro fights across boxing and MMA after successfully debuting in the latter with a third-round TKO of Alice Yauger at Bellator 180 this past June.