Dana White Open To Signing Ex-NFL DE Greg Hardy To UFC Only If He Gets Experience

Former NFL defensive lineman Greg Hardy has expressed interest in a career in mixed martial arts, with several promotions reportedly returning that interest.

Dana White Open To Signing Ex-NFL DE Greg Hardy To UFC Only If He Gets Experience

Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting reported Tuesday that Hardy has been working on the transition with training sessions over the past few months. The 28-year-old former Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys star released a statement to the outlet regarding his decision.

“I’m very focused and excited to start my MMA career,” Hardy said. “I’m going to do this the right way; I can assure you of that.”

He continued his statement on Twitter:

UFC president Dana White has said he would consider signing Hardy, although he isn’t prepared to sign the former Pro Bowler until Hardy proves he has adequate experience in competitive MMA.

“I’m one of those guys too who believes that we’re all human beings and we all make mistakes,” White said Wednesday on FS1’s Speak for Yourself. “And when you make a mistake, you pay your penance, whatever it might be, and you should be allowed to make a living and move on in your life. Is he good enough to come into the UFC and fight? I highly doubt it.

“I’ve been playing football for a couple weeks too, maybe I’ll try out for the (New England) Patriots?” White continued, laughing. “It takes a little bit longer than that, but he could fight at one of these small shows. We’ll see how he looks, and I don’t know.”

Hardy failed to land with an NFL team as a free agent this past offseason, after a highly-controversial one-year stint with the Cowboys in 2015.

The Tennessee native was found guilty on two counts of domestic violence– assaulting a female and communicating threats– in 2014 following an alleged incident involving his ex-girlfriend, Nicole Holder, per Jim Bradley of WSOC-TV. Hardy was subsequently sentenced to 18 months probation as well as a suspended 60-day stay in jail. Those charges were dismissed on appeal, since Holder failed to appear in court for the trial.

The NFL suspended the defensive end for 10 games for “conduct detrimental to the league,” following a two-month investigation into the situation in 2015. Arbitrator Harold Henderson later reduced the ban to four games.

In September, TMZ Sports reported that Hardy was arrested for cocaine possession after police found the substance in a wallet in his vehicle. He told police somebody else placed the drug there while he was at a party the night before.

After Hardy’s MMA announcement, Fox Sports NFL and UFC reporter Jay Glazer called for fight promoters and coaches to blackball Hardy from their gyms, stating the player did not deserve the “privilege” of competing in the sport due to his past troubles and the general lack of regret shown for them.

On Wednesday, however, White disagreed with this sentiment, saying Hardy deserved a second chance as much as anyone else.

“I’m not saying he should be welcomed here, but I’m saying I’m a guy who believes that if you make a mistake, your life isn’t over, go kill yourself or something,” White said. “You made a mistake, you pay for it. When you make mistakes, it’s all about how you act from there on out. How do you handle yourself after that and what do you do to fix it.”

ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 27: Greg Hardy #76 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 27, 2015 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)