Greg Hardy's first MMA opponent has a message for the former NFL star ...
I'M GETTIN' THE W, SON!!
FYI, Greg's first pro fight is on Nov. 4 at Rise of a Warrior 21 ... and we got the man who's gonna meet him in the cage -- Joe "The Legend" Hawkins -- to give us the low-down on their scrap.
Joe's got nothing but respect for Hardy ... but told TMZ Sports he ain't gonna take it easy on him.
"I’m gonna be incredible," Hawkins said. "I see the referee raising my hand.