Greg Hardy has decided to try his hands (and feet) at mixed martial arts. The former Dallas Cowboys defensive end has decided to put his football career on hold to pursue MMA.
via MMAFighting.com:
Hardy, 28, who does not have an extensive martial arts background, has been training for several months in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and according to his team, several promotions have already expressed interest 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.”
While playing for the Carolina Panthers, Hardy missed the majority of the 2014 NFL season after being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list due to a domestic violence incident with an ex-girlfriend. He would go on the miss the first four games of the 2015 season to serve a suspension stemming from the case. After signing a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys last year, he has since been unable to land a spot with a new team.
According to his team, Hardy currently weighs approximately 285 pounds and is expected to debut as a heavyweight when he fights for the first time, most likely in 2017.
“I’m fully committed to being as successful as I can be in this sport,” he said.
Domestic violence is definitely not funny but I can see the jokes being made about Hardy moving to a fighting sport.
