UFC newcomer and former NFL athlete Greg Hardy has courted reactions from the UFC fans and fighters alike since his appearance on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contenders Show. Greg Hardy has in past been accused and convicted of domestic violence but due to his then wife not co-operating with the authorities, his punishment was dropped. Many of the fans and fighters have questioned the UFC’s decision to first sign Hardy to a developmental contract and now to sign him as a UFC fighter debuting in Toronto, Canada on the UFC’s first card in association with ESPN.
To make matters worse Hardy’ debut will take place on a card featuring Rachael Ostovich, who was recently a victim of domestic violence herself. Rachael who is facing Paige Vanzant , was beaten by her husband who is also an MMA fighter and according to many of the fans this showed UFC in a bad light.
UFC President Dana White is not fazed with the criticism. “First of all, when you say ‘People started reacting,’ let’s put that into context,” White said. “It wasn’t like that at all. People weren’t reacting. … It really wasn’t an issue. It was with a couple of people. And if you want to turn anything into an issue, you can if you want to turn something into an issue. The only person that matters didn’t have an issue with it, and that’s all that matters to me.”
“He’s on the roster. He’s going to be on the card with lots of different people,” White said. “If this guy is good enough, and he’s able to stick around here in the UFC, he’s going to be on the card with lots of different people. It is what it is. I made the decision to sign this guy and bring him in.
“Obviously when we did this fight, I wouldn’t have done that without talking to Rachael first. And I did, and she was awesome about it. She said, ‘Listen, his story isn’t my story. Everybody’s story is different, and I believe in second chances. I have no problem fighting on the card with this guy, and this guy’s never done anything to me.’”
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