{{short description|New Zealand mixed martial arts fighter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox martial artist | name = Janay Harding | image = | image_size = | other_names = Hollowpoint | birth_name = Janay Tiana Harding<ref name="abr">{{cite web |title=Current details for ABN |url=https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=81406692937 |publisher=Australian Business Register |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250718201327/https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=81406692937 |archive-date=18 July 2025}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|09|28}} | birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | residence = | nationality = New Zealander | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}} | weight_lb = 145 | weight_class = Featherweight | reach = 70.0 in | style = Karate | stance = | fighting_out_of = Sydney | team = | years_active = 2014–present | kickbox_win = | kickbox_kowin = | kickbox_loss = | kickbox_koloss = | kickbox_draw = | kickbox_nc = | mma_kowin = 4 | mma_subwin = | mma_decwin = 2 | mma_koloss = 2 | mma_subloss = 1 | mma_decloss = 5 | mma_draw = | mma_nc = | sherdog = 164517 | footnotes = | updated = }} '''Janay Tiana 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, died.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Harding's struggle with father's passing|url=https://www.teaomaori.news/hardings-struggle-fathers-passing|access-date=2021-05-11|website=Māori Television|language=en}}</ref> Starting martial arts at a young age, Harding earned a black belt in karate at the age of 14.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bellator's Harding trip home worth it|url=https://www.teaomaori.news/bellators-harding-trip-home-worth-it|access-date=2021-05-11|website=Māori Television|language=en}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Janay Harding victorious in international debut – Fight News Australia|url=https://www.fightnewsaustralia.com/janay-harding-victorious-in-international-debut/|access-date=2021-05-11|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Janay Harding signs with Bellator MMA – Fight News Australia|url=https://www.fightnewsaustralia.com/janay-harding-signs-with-bellator-mma/|access-date=2021-05-11|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
===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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tucker|first=Bryan|date=2018-05-12|title=Bellator 199 Results: Bader vs. King Mo|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/5/12/17346106/bellator-199-results-bader-vs-king-mo|access-date=2021-05-11|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}}</ref>
Harding faced Sinead Kavanagh at Bellator 207 on October 12, 2018. She won the bout after it was stopped due to a cut.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tucker|first=Bryan|date=2018-10-12|title=Bellator 207 Results: Mitrione vs. Bader|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/10/12/17969340/bellator-207-results-mitrione-vs-bader|access-date=2021-05-11|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}}</ref>
Harding faced Marina Mokhnatkina on March 29, 2019 at Bellator 219. She won the bout via unanimous decision.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tucker|first=Bryan|date=2019-03-29|title=Bellator 219 Results: Awad vs. Girtz|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/3/29/18287421/bellator-219-results-awad-vs-girtz|access-date=2021-04-26|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}}</ref>
Harding faced Amanda Bell at Bellator 233 on November 8, 2019. She lost the fight via third-round knockout.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tucker|first=Bryan|date=2019-11-08|title=Bellator 233 Results: Salter vs. Van Steenis|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/11/8/20955366/bellator-233-results-salter-vs-van-steenis|access-date=2021-05-11|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}}</ref>
Harding faced Jessy Miele at Bellator 251 on November 5, 2020. She won the bout via unanimous decision.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Marrocco|first=Steven|date=2020-11-05|title=Bellator 251 results: Corey Anderson manhandles Melvin Manhoef for second-round finish|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/11/5/21551959/bellator-251-results-corey-anderson-manhandles-melvin-manhoef-for-second-round-finish|access-date=2021-05-11|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}}</ref>
Harding faced Leah McCourt on May 21, 2021 at Bellator 259.<ref>{{Cite news|title=McCourt to fight Harding in May|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/mixed-martial-arts/56762703|access-date=2021-05-11}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-20|title=Bellator 259 weigh-in results: Two fighters come in heavy, including co-headliner|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/05/bellator-259-cris-cyborg-leslie-smith-weigh-in-results|access-date=2021-05-20|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-21|title=Leah McCourt turns tables with upkick, submits Janay Harding in wild Bellator 259 finish|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/05/bellator-259-video-leah-mccourt-upkick-submits-janay-harding-comeback|access-date=2021-05-22|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}}</ref>
Harding faced Dayana Silva on April 23, 2022 at Bellator 279.<ref>{{Cite web |last=King |first=Kristen |date=2022-04-04 |title=Fights on Tap: Gegard Mousasi vs. Johnny Eblen among 9 Bellator bouts announced |url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2022/4/4/23009990/fights-on-tap-gegard-mousasi-vs-johnny-eblen-among-9-bellator-bouts-announced-mma-news |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=Bloody Elbow |language=en |archive-date=19 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419022908/https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2022/4/4/23009990/fights-on-tap-gegard-mousasi-vs-johnny-eblen-among-9-bellator-bouts-announced-mma-news |url-status=dead }}</ref> She lost the bout via unanimous decision.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherdog.com |title=Bellator 279 ‘Cyborg vs. Blencowe 2’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Bellator-279-Cyborg-vs-Blencowe-2-PlaybyPlay-Results-Round-Scoring-186202#janay-harding-(146)-dayana-silva-(1456) |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=Sherdog |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-24 |title=Arlene Blencowe & Janay Harding both lose via decision at Bellator 279 |url=https://www.fightnewsaustralia.com/arlene-blencowe-janay-harding-both-lose-via-decision-at-bellator-279/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=Fight News Australia |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Harding faced Sinead Kavanagh in a rematch on February 25, 2023 at Bellator 291.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Markey |first=Ross |date=2022-11-07 |title=Report – Sinead Kavanagh vs. Janay Harding II booked for Bellator Dublin on February 24. |url=https://www.fightbookmma.com/report-sinead-kavanagh-vs-janay-harding-ii-booked-for-bellator-dublin-on-february-24/ |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=FightBook MMA |language=en-US}}</ref> She lost the fight by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rush |first1=Dylan |title=Bellator 291: Sinead Kavanagh Gets Revenge in Rematch with Janay Harding |url=https://cagesidepress.com/2023/02/25/bellator-291-sinead-kavanagh-vs-janay-harding-2/ |website=Cageside Press |access-date=26 February 2023 |date=25 February 2023}}</ref>
== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tayla Harris obliterates boxing rival|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/tayla-harris-obliterates-boxing-rival/3885748/|access-date=2021-05-11|website=Morning Bulletin|language=en}}</ref>
==Mixed martial arts record== {{MMArecordbox | draws= | nc= | ko-wins= 4 | sub-wins= | dec-wins= 2 | ko-losses= 2 | sub-losses= 1 | dec-losses= 5 | dq-wins= | dq-losses= | other-wins= | other-losses= }} {{MMA record start}} |-
|{{no2}}Loss |align=center|6–8 |Jamie Edenden |Decision (unanimous) |Beatdown Promotions 5 |{{dts|2023|September|16}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Eatons Hill, Queensland, Australia | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center| 6–7 |Sinead Kavanagh |Decision (unanimous) |Bellator 291 |{{dts|2023|February|25}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Dublin, Ireland | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center| 6–6 | Dayana Silva |Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 279 | {{dts|2022|April|23}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center| 6–5 |Leah McCourt |Submission (triangle choke) |Bellator 259 |{{dts|2021|May|21}} |align=center|2 |align=center|2:42 |Uncasville, Connecticut, United States |{{small|Catchweight (149.4 lb) bout; McCourt missed weight.}} |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 6–4 | Jessy Miele | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 251 | {{dts|2020.11.05}} | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 5–4 | Amanda Bell |TKO (punches) |Bellator 233 |{{dts|2019|November|8}} |align=center| 3 |align=center| 4:44 |Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 5–3 | Marina Mokhnatkina | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 219 | {{dts|2019|March|29}} | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Temecula, California, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center|4–3 | Sinead Kavanagh |TKO (cut) | Bellator 207 | {{dts|2018.10.12}} | align=center|1 | align=center|5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 3–3 | Amber Leibrock | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 199 | {{dts|2018|May|12}} | align=center|3 | align=center|5:00 | San Jose, California | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 3–2 | Ramona Pascual | TKO (elbows and punches) | Fight Factory Gym: E-1 World Championship |{{dts|2017.05.31}} |align=Center|2 |align=center|1:43 |Hong Kong | |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 2–2 | Arlene Blencowe |KO (punches) |Legend MMA 1 |{{dts|2017|January|28}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:08 |Gold Coast, Queensland Australia | |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 2–1 | Jessica-Rose Clark |Decision (unanimous) |Eternal MMA 19 |{{dts|2016|July|30}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 2–0 | Jess Doueihi | TKO (punches) | Brace 36 | {{dts|2015.09.19}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:26 | Sydney, Australia | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 1–0 | Helen Malone | TKO (punches) | Eternal MMA 5 | {{dts|2014.05.03}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:59 | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia | |- {{end}} <ref>{{Cite web|last=Sherdog.com|title=Janay Harding|url=https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Janay-Harding-164517|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Sherdog}}</ref>
== See also == * List of female mixed martial artists
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Sherdog|164517}} * {{Bellator|1514}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harding, Janay}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand female mixed martial artists Category:Featherweight mixed martial artists Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing karate Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing Category:Mixed martial artists from the Gold Coast, Queensland Category:Bellator female fighters Category:New Zealand female karateka Category:New Zealand women boxers Category:Martial artists from Christchurch Category:21st-century New Zealand sportswomen