One of the most intriguing post-NFL career paths belongs to Greg Hardy. Rather than stepping away from professional competition, the former NFL defensive end fully committed to mixed martial arts and has managed to find some success along the way. Few former football players make such a transition, making Hardy’s MMA journey particularly notable.
However, his latest appearance at Fight Nation Championship 31 against Darko Stosic did not go according to plan. The heavyweight bout carried plenty of pre-fight intrigue, but none of it mattered once the action began. Hardy suffered a brutal knockout loss in a performance he would likely rather forget.
MORE: 9 notable championship rematches in professional sports history
Reports indicated that Hardy entered the fight with a 52-pound weight advantage over Stosic. Despite missing the required weight by more than 25 pounds, the bout still moved forward. In hindsight, Hardy may have benefited from postponing the fight and arriving in better condition.
Mar 5, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Serghei Spivac (red gloves) fights Greg Hardy (blue gloves) during UFC 272 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
However, his NFL career took a dramatic turn in 2014. After receiving the franchise tag from Carolina, Hardy was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list following domestic violence allegations. He appeared in just one game that season.
Hardy signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2015 and delivered a respectable season, but the organization chose not to re-sign him. He never played another NFL game.
Now, Hardy’s fighting career may also be approaching its conclusion. He currently owns a 3-1 professional boxing record and an 8-6-1 mixed martial arts record.