Greg Hardy is training to make his professional mixed martial arts debut next month, and he and his first opponent have quite a bit in common.
During the UFC 224 broadcast over the weekend, it was announced that Hardy will face former NFL defensive end Austin Lane on the Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series. The heavyweight bout will take place on June 12.
Lane played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears in five NFL seasons from 2010-2014. He is 4-0 in his professional MMA career.
“At the end of the day, when we go in the cage, we’re just going to be two fighters,” Lane said in an interview with FloCombat.com. “Obviously we’ll both have some athleticism that has carried over from the NFL, but I don’t consider him former NFL player Greg Hardy, I consider him MMA fighter Greg Hardy and that’s how I’m going to approach what he’s bringing to the table.”
White’s Tuesday Night Contender series features several live fights in Las Vegas, and at least one fighter is offered a multi-fight deal with the UFC when it’s over.
Hardy, 29, has not totally given up on his pro football career, as he is currently signed with the Richmond Roughriders of the American Arena League. He was once one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL until disturbing details of his domestic violence case were released, which basically made him untouchable to NFL teams. Hardy was also arrested for possession of cocaine more recently, but he says he is not giving up on playing football or becoming a UFC champion.
