Greg Hardy has become a controversial figure in both professional football and mixed martial arts. After a successful NFL career, Hardy’s foray into MMA has been met with mixed results. His latest attempt at a career in combat sports was with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) on Friday, and it did not go as planned.
Hardy was the overwhelming favorite against opponent Josh Watson, but Watson sent him reeling into the ropes with a left hook at the end of the first round. The hit was scored a knockdown as the ropes prevented Hardy’s fall, leading to a 10-count from referee Dan Miragliotta. Watson then hit Hardy with another left hook in the second round, knocking him horizontal and ending the fight.
Watson, who had gone eight years since his minor MMA career, was participating in his third BKFC event and had a 1-1 record with the promotion. Hardy, on the other hand, had just come off of a 7-5 career MMA record with one no-contest in the UFC. His stint with the UFC saw him receive bottom-tier opponents due to his athletic ability and pre-existing following but ultimately ended in a loss to Alexander Volkov. Hardy then entered the world of boxing with a pair of bouts late last year, the latter a win against Hasim Rahman Jr.
Hardy’s career in the NFL was far more successful, as he posted 40 sacks in six seasons with the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys. Sadly, his NFL career ended under a cloud of controversy due to domestic allegations against him.
It remains to be seen whether Hardy’s BKFC experience will be the last of his combat sports career. Regardless, his career in the NFL has been a rollercoaster of successes and controversies, and his foray into the world of MMA and boxing has been no different.
