Making the change from one sport to another is never an easy task but it’s one that former American footballer Greg Hardy seems to have achieved after he won his first MMA fight and a UFC deal now looks likely.
Hardy has enjoyed tremendous success with the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys NFL teams. Since leaving the Cowboys at the end of the 2015 season, Hardy played Spring League and Indoor Football but in October 2016 he caused a bit of a shock when announcing his ambition to launch a Mixed Martial Arts career, despite a lack of previous experience.
Between November 2017 and February of this year, he won three amateur fights, all in the first round and that led to his professional debut on June 12 when he took on Austen Lane. Austen also used to play in the NFL at Dana White’s Contender Series 9 at The Ultimate Fighter Gym in Las Vegas and streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.
Demolition Job
Hardy passed the test with a first round knock-out in just 57 seconds and Lane had no answer to the heavy punches that Hardy continually threw. It wasn’t the cleanest of fights though with the fight having to be briefly stopped after 25 seconds after a Hardy eye poke. When the fight resumed a huge right hook from Hardy landed on his opponent’s chin forcing Lane down to one knee. The moment he got back up his opponent hit him with a left-hander that forced the referee to stop the fight. Sitting at ringside UFC President Dana White jumped out of his seat shouting an expletive and obviously being impressed with what he had just seen.
Speaking after his first-round win, the former NFL star, who trains with American Top Team, told reporters “I’m ready for the big show. I love the opportunity. I train at the best gym in the world, and I have full confidence and faith that those guys are there to get me ready for whatever comes next.”
White Sees Bright Future for Hardy
That wish came true when White gave him a UFC contract, though it’s believed that at present it is a developmental deal. He wants to see him get more experience before joining the UFC Heavyweight division. Possible plans for Hardy include a fight on the last episode of the Contender Series then appearances on the ‘Looking For A Fight’ cards.
The UFC President obviously has a lot of faith in Hardy despite receiving criticism for giving him a chance to forge a pro MMA career after a controversial career on and off the NFL pitch with accusations of domestic violence though he has never been convicted.
A possible All-Time Great in the Making
In response to that criticism, White commented that he sees Hardy as a future world champion if he can stay clean and feels he could become “one of the greatest mixed martial artists to ever live.” He added “The guy paid his dues. He hit rock bottom. He built himself back up, and the guy’s out there just trying to make a life and a living.”
Hardy has certainly had more success than former WWE wrestler CM Punk who lost his second straight UFC contest at the weekend. That led White to declare that was most likely the end of his UFC career.
