Did Greg Hardy make it to the UFC just six months after his professional debut because he’s an elite heavyweight prospect or because he’s a controversial former Pro Bowl defensive lineman who is guaranteed to attract attention every time his name is mentioned?
Those who know the 30-year-old heavyweight largely as a result of his off-the-field issues during his days with the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys will argue it is because he’s a celebrity lightning rod — a recognizable name who is sure to pull in audiences as he makes the walk to the Octagon for the first time this weekend against Allen Crowder in Brooklyn, New York.