Former Cowboy Greg Hardy To Pursue Career In MMA
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DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy is pursuing a career in mixed martial arts, according to MMAFighting.com.
"I'm very focused and excited to start my MMA career," Hardy said in a statement provided to the website. "I'm going to do this the right way, I can assure you of that."
Hardy was arrested in Richardson on September 26 for possession of a controlled substance (cocaine). He was released on $5,000 bond later that afternoon.
In April 2015, Hardy was suspended 10 games without pay after being convicted of two counts of domestic violence against his former girlfriend in North Carolina. Though the charges were eventually dismissed, the NFL conducted its own investigation and determined that a league punishment was necessary. The suspension was later reduced to four games.
The investigation concluded that Hardy violated the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy in at least four instances.
"First, he used physical force against her which caused her to land in a bathtub. Second, he used physical force against her which caused her to land on a futon that was covered with at least four semi-automatic rifles. Third, he used physical force against her by placing his hands around Ms. Holder's neck and applying enough pressure to leave visible marks. And fourth, he used physical force to shove Ms. Holder against a wall in his apartment's entry hallway."
The Cowboys signed Hardy to a one-year deal in 2015 based heavily on incentives. Much of the salary was earned through "roster bonuses" worth $578,125 for every game that he is on the active roster.
In 12 games, Hardy led Dallas with 32 quarterback pressures and was second on the team with six sacks.
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