There was controversy when former Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Greg Hardy made his league debut on the UFC’s debut on ESPN+, in the co-main event.
Hardy missed most of the 2014 season due to an alleged assault incident involving a former girlfriend and a bed covered with firearms. The woman said he told her all the weapons were loaded, and that he threatened to shoot me if I went to the media or reported his assaults to anyone. She estimated between 25 and 30 guns, including AK-47s, automatic-looking weapons, shotguns, rifles, and pistols.
Hardy was found guilty by a North Carolina judge, but following procedure in that state asked for a jury trial. The case was dismissed when the alleged victim did not appear. For many, it takes more than a quirky southern law to make people feel right about Hardy.
However, combat sports have for generations been a route to turning life around. And Hardy is well-liked and respected by his make and female teammates at ATT. And Rachael Ostovich, herself a survivor of DV, fought on the same card, and addressed the issue.
I believe in second chances,” saidOstovich. “I am glad he’s making a turnaround and I hope the same can happen for my husband and anybody else who has made a wrong choice. I’ve made wrong choices and I was able to come back from those kinds of things. We’ve all been, you know, not on our best behavior. For some people, they get caught or whatever may be.”
And then Hardy looked amateurish, and spent after one round. And then Hardy blatantly kneed his downed opponent.
Twitter reacted, hard.
We've arrived at the #UFCBrooklyn co-headliner which sees former NFL player @GregHardyJr make his octagon debut against Allen Crowder. https://t.co/v0CVlSFcRH pic.twitter.com/S5SGmAcHPY
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 20, 2019
If you don't think Greg Hardy is a special kind of crazy, then you're about to witness some violence. I'm talking Dexter like. #UFCBrooklyn
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) January 20, 2019
Greg hardy has the creepiest look on his face. @ufc #wtf
— Cody Stamann (@CodyStamann) January 20, 2019
Former NFL DE Greg Hardy disqualified for illegal knee strike in UFC debut pic.twitter.com/QrU6YVGby7
— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) January 20, 2019
Greg Hardy just kneed Allen Crowder when he was down. Of course this is how the fight ends. The crowd inside the Barclays are chanting, "a–hole., a–hole."#UFCBrooklyn
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) January 20, 2019
Intentional.
Waited.
Thought about it.
Chose to commit the illegal strike.My educated opinion.
— Robin Black (@robinblackmma) January 20, 2019
He knew it was illegal. Wanted a way out. Women beaters are all cowards.
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) January 20, 2019
I've never seen or heard a crowd so happy about a DQ win
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 20, 2019
Nothing like a blatantly illegal knee to make people forget about your transgressions.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) January 20, 2019
This was the worst outcome Hardy could produce. The remedial fighting didn't need to be in this spot. Whatever. https://t.co/20DZUkRVAd
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) January 20, 2019
If Greg Hardy wasn't the most hated man coming into this fight card, he certainly is now. Done himself no favours with the MMA community with that performance.
Allen Crowder wins via DQ and the crowd love it.#UFCBrooklyn— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) January 20, 2019
Not the way that many would’ve wanted to see Hardy lose, yet still somehow on brand.
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) January 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/ScottHarrisMMA/status/1086852036333920256
https://twitter.com/davedoylemma/status/1086851481611886593
.That Was for sure an illegal knee🤦♂️ , very unprofessional, that's what you can expect from a guy who has only 3 fights in his career, so immature ,he should have been more experienced to make it in the UFC
— Nordine Taleb💧 (@TNT83MMA) January 20, 2019
What do you except when you put that level of inexperience in that high level of a fight? Sad but true #UFCBROOKLYN
— Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) January 20, 2019
Welp, Greg Hardy leaves the octagon to a course of boos after being DQ’d for an illegal strike in his UFC debut #UFCBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/G8PLUVkbiF
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 20, 2019
