Controversial former NFL player Greg Hardy is getting a shot at the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series

ESPN has confirmed that former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Greg Hardy will make his pro MMA debut on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series sometime this summer. Hardy was basically thrown out of the NFL back in 2015 after assaulting his girlfriend and threatening to kill her, which should make this decision to potentially fast track him into the UFC just a little controversial.

Hardy is 3-0 in amateur competition with 3 first round KOs and is said to be fighting 5-1 Brandon Sayles in the heavyweight division. Fighters that impress Dana White on his Tuesday Night Contender Series are often offered contracts with the UFC. Past DWTNCS draftees include Sean O’Malley, Kurt Holobaugh, and Boston Salmon.

We suppose it shouldn’t be all that surprising that this is happening. Dana White sounded willing to give Hardy a chance back when we learned he was training MMA.

“I’m one of those guys too, who believes that we’re all human beings and we all make mistakes,” White said in 2016. “When you make a mistake, you pay your penance whatever it might be, and you should be allowed to make a living and move on in your life.”

No date has been set for Hardy’s Contender debut.

*UPDATE* We originally listed Sage Northcutt as a product of ‘Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series.’ He was in fact from ‘Dana White’s Looking For A Fight’ show.