Former Panthers and Cowboys DE Greg Hardy is reportedly set to make his UFC debut this summer.
According to Brett Okamoto of ESPN, Hardy has booked a heavyweight fight on June 12 as part of the “Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series.”
The DWTNCS is made up of a few live fights that will be held in Las Vegas. White and UFC matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard will offer at least multi-fight deal with the UFC at the end of each episode.
Sources tell Okamoto that Hardy will face Brandon Sayles (5-1) in the first episode of the upcoming season, but UFC officials have yet to formally announce the fight.
Hardy has turned to MMA fighting after his NFL career ended following the 2015 season.
In 2014, Hardy was arrested for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend. The domestic violence case against him was eventually dropped and expunged from his record.
However, Hardy later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drug charge in 2016.
As an amateur MMA fighter, Hardy He has won all three of his fights via first-round knockout.
Hardy, 29, is a former sixth-round pick of the Panthers back in 2010. He spent five years in Carolina before signing a one-year contract worth $11.3 million with the Cowboys for the 2015 season.
In 2015, Hardy appeared in 12 games and recorded 35 tackles, six sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a pass defense for the Cowboys. That year, Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 17 defensive end out of 48 qualifying players.
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