Greg Hardy will appear in the main event of December’s Island Fights card on UFC Fight Pass, and if he’s successful that night, his next stop could very well be the UFC.
Disgraced NFL star Greg Hardy is set to return to the cage in December, marking what will be the third fight of a UFC developmental deal he earned on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series in June. Hardy, best known as a defensive end for the Carolina Panthers, was sent packing from the NFL after a domestic violence incident in 2014 led to him being tried and convicted for assault and communicating threats (charges were later dropped during the appeal process after the victim did not appear in court). He has since transitioned to MMA, going 3-0 as a pro after a brief amateur stint. Two of his pro fights came under the DWTNCS banner, and his next will be tied into the UFC as well, part of the Island Fights promotion.
ESPN’s Ariel Helwani first reported the news, which was later confirmed by Island Fights ring announcer Christopher J. Rothstein. While no opponent for Hardy has been set, the card is expected to take place December 21, and air exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.
It is expected that if Hardy has another good outing, he could make his UFC debut sometime in the first half of 2019. His 3-0 run as a pro has seen him finish all three fights within a minute, by KO/TKO. All three of his amateur fights also ended in first round finishes.
Hardy vs. an opponent to be named later will serve as the main event for the Island Fights card, taking place in Pensacola, FL.
