Disgraced former NFL star Greg Hardy has been effectively marketed quite heavily by the UFC as a “redemption story.” In 2014, Hardy was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and making communicating threats, but the misdemeanor charges were dismissed and expunged from his record when the victim did not appear in court for a jury trial. Afterwards, graphic photos and details emerged in a comprehensive report by Deadspin’s Diana Moskovitz.
Hardy has been out of the NFL since the end of the 2015 season, and has since compiled a record of 3-0 in amateur MMA and 2-0 in professional MMA.