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Greg Hardy transitions from defensive end to MMA fighter
Former Cowboys defensive end, Greg Hardy, is moving from the field to the ring, to pursue a career in mixed martial arts, according to mmafighting.com.
Hardy, 28, has no mixed martial arts experience, but has reportedly been training for several months and has several promotions interested in signing him.
“I’m very focused and excited to start my MMA career,” Hardy said in a statement provided to MMAFighting.com. “I’m going to do this the right way, I can assure you of that.
According to his team, Hardy currently weighs approximately 285 pounds and is expected to debut as a heavyweight.
“I’m fully committed to being as successful as I can be in this sport,” he said.
Hardy, who’s had off the field issues, hopes to wipe the slate clean. On Monday he tweeted his new website, promising “the ultimate comeback.”
The former All-Pro missed a majority of the 2014 season with the Carolina Panthers and served a four-game suspension the following year, after being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list due to a domestic violence incident with ex-girlfriend, Nicole Holder.
Hardy was originally convicted of assaulting and threatening Holder, but charges were dropped after she didn’t appear in front of a jury at the appeal.
After five seasons with the Panthers, the Dallas Cowboys signed Hardy to a one-year deal, which they did not renew. Hardy was unable to find a spot on a new team during the off-season.
Last month, Hardy was arrested on a cocaine possession charge in the Dallas suburb of Richardson.
