Greg Hardy Will Face Another Ex-NFLer In UFC Heavyweight Debut

During yesterday's broadcast of UFC 224, Dana White announced Greg Hardy's opponent for his MMA debut. Hardy the former Dallas Cowboy defensive lineman, will face another former NFL talent in Austen Lane. Hardy a former pro bowler, announced his intentions to put a freeze on his NFL career back in 2016, and has since suited up on a part time basis in the National Arena League while he trains. His slated opponent Austen Lane last played for the Chicago Bears before retiring in 2015.

The two fighters who qualify as "Heavyweights" will make their debut on the UFC's Tuesday Night Contender Series, taking place this summer. While Hardy remains an unknown commodity, Austen Lane has accrued a perfect 4-0 record in MMA since switching vocations. He plans to treat this fight like any other: "At the end of the day, when we go in the cage, we're just going to be two fighters. 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."

Greg Hardy for his part, has been training out of the American Top Team stable , in Coconut Creek, Florida. His hiatus from football coincided with multiple arrests, once for assaulting his girlfriend, and another for a possession of drugs misdemeanour.