Greg Hardy, American football player
Gregory McKarl Hardy (born July 28, 1988) is an American former mixed martial artist and former football defensive end who was previously signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) where he competed in the heavyweight division. He previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers. Hardy played college football at Ole Miss and was selected by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Hardy's most successful season occurred in 2013 when he recorded a career-high 15 sacks, the Panthers' single-season record, earning him Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors. During the following off-season, however, Hardy was found guilty of assaulting a former girlfriend. Although the case was dismissed after the victim failed to appear in court, the ensuing controversy led to him not being re-signed by the Panthers after playing only one game with them in 2014. Hardy spent his final NFL season during 2015 for the Dallas Cowboys.
After the conclusion of his football career, Hardy became a mixed martial artist and joined the UFC in 2019.