Troubled NFL Vet Greg Hardy Pursuing MMA Career | MMAWeekly.com

Beleaguered NFL free agent Greg Hardy is reportedly going to try and put his troubled past in the rear-view mirror by making a run at competing in mixed martial arts.

Hardy, who can’t find an NFL team that wants him and who has no significant history in MMA, told MMAFighting.com that he is dedicated to competing in MMA and “doing it the right way.”

Doing things the wrong way appears to be part of Hardy’s issues in the NFL. Having played five years with the Carolina Panthers and one with the Dallas Cowboys, Hardy was one of the more productive defensive ends in the league in 2012 and 2013.

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Things went south quickly in 2014 when he was charged with assaulting and threatening an ex-girlfriend. A judge convicted Hardy on both charges. He then appealed, asking for a jury trial. The charges were dropped during the jury trial because the prosecution could not locate his ex-girlfriend.

An independent NFL investigation concluded that Hardy had violated league conduct policies. He was suspended for 10 games by commissioner Roger Goodell, but an arbitrator later reduced the suspension to four games.

After a return to the league with the Cowboys in 2015, the team’s coach declined to resign him after the season, citing several issues he had with Hardy’s behavior and negative influence on younger players on the team.

On Sept. 26, 2016, Hardy was arrested for alleged cocaine possession, according to ESPN.

Remaining unsigned several games into the 2016 NFL season, Hardy told MMAFighting, “I’m very focused and excited to start my MMA career. I’m going to do this the right way, I can assure you of that.”

Hardy, 28, has reportedly been training for several months and is expected to make his debut as a heavyweight sometime in 2017.

“I’m fully committed to being as successful as I can be in this sport,” he said.

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