UFC: Greg Hardy's MMA debut receives mixed reviews on Twitter

Ex-NFL player Greg Hardy was awarded a contract with the UFC after scoring a first-round knockout in his professional MMA debut Tuesday night. The Knockout was vicious and Dana White jumped out of his chair seeing that KO. Greg Hardy, the former NFL player whose promising career fizzled after charges of domestic violence and continued behavioral issues. The 29-year-old former defensive end last played in the NFL in 2015, and after pivoting to MMA the following year, he went 3-0 as an amateur, all by first-round knockout.

Hardy was sentenced in 2014 by a North Carolina judge to 18 months’ probation, with a 60-day jail sentence suspended, after he was found guilty of assaulting a female and communicating threats. A member of the Carolina Panthers at the time, the 2013 Pro Bowler had been accused by an ex-girlfriend of using physical force against her after they had a night of drinking, and of putting his hands around her neck and threatening to kill her.

Hardy denied assaulting the woman and claimed that she suffered bruises while hurling herself into a bathtub in his apartment after he said he wouldn’t sleep with her, and that she threatened to kill herself if she left his building. He appealed and asked for a jury trial, and the case against him was dismissed in February 2015 after the woman failed to appear in court, with prosecutors suggesting that Hardy had privately reached a financial settlement with her.

So, seeing his history of domestic violence it’s natural for him to receive hate from MMA and Football fans in general. Twitter was filled with Mixed reactions and reviews.

Dana White in 2014: "There's one thing that you never bounce back from, and that's putting your hands on a woman." Dana White right about now: "I didn't mean that, Greg Hardy. Welcome to the UFC."

— Jeff Wagenheim (@jeffwagenheim) June 13, 2018

I can understand the urge to force Greg Hardy into a redemption story. The narrative is right there. But he's done nothing to atone for what he did; he's just moving on to another career, and his new employer is already out here obfuscating on his behalf.

— Patrick Wyman (@Patrick_Wyman) June 13, 2018

The UFC allowed Greg Hardy to compete because "Everybody deserves a second chance"…except Ben Askren, who doesn't seem to deserve a first chance.

— MMA Roasted (@MMARoasted) June 13, 2018

NFL columnist and author Mike Freeman went as far as calling Greg Hardy a Garbage Human.

Just a reminder that Greg Hardy is a garbage human and domestic abuser.

— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) June 13, 2018

https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/1006725423378632704

Meanwhile, Dana White was so excited for Hardy’s debut that it looked like it was hard for him to hide his excitement.

Before…during…after Greg Hardy demolished Austen Lane in his pro MMA debut. Dana White is excited. #ContenderSeries pic.twitter.com/DEywFsYKSZ

— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) June 13, 2018

https://twitter.com/MacMallyMMA/status/1006707949849284608

UFC fighter James Vick tweeted in support of Greg Hardy stating that there is nothing wrong with Hardy a second chance in his life.

Good win for Greg Hardy. I see nothing wrong with him getting an opportunity to fight on this show or to be in the UFC there's nothing wrong with giving people a second chance in their life.

— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) June 13, 2018

Whether people like Hardy or not, it will be interesting to see how things work out for him and how will fans approach him as he moves forward fighting big fights and gets more media coverage.