EX-NFL star Hardy now 2-0 in MMA

Greg Hardy, the former NFL starturned-mma heavyweight prospect, is well aware that many people don’t want him to succeed and never will forgive him for his off-field transgressions.

But he rarely encounters them in his everyday life.

“Everybody to my face is really nice,” he said after improving to

2-0 as a professional with a 17-second knockout of Taboris Gordon on “Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series” at “The Ultimate Fighter” Gym in Las Vegas. “Once they meet me, I believe it’s really hard to be that way toward me.”

It’s not difficult to Google his name, though.

Hardy probably will be forever linked to a domestic violence case in which he was suspended from the NFL and found guilty of assault and communicating threats, though the convictions were later vacated when his ex-girlfriend stopped cooperating.

The defensive end never played again for the Carolina Panthers, and a second chance with the Dallas Cowboys ended after one season in 2015.

Hardy, 30, holds out hope of a return to the NFL ; he was awarded a developmental deal with the UFC after scoring a 57-second knockout on a “DWTNCS” card in June and is focused on his new sport as he tries to gain experience and work his way toward a spot on the organization’s official roster.

UFC president Dana White has been pleased with Hardy’s progress.

“We’ve had zero (negative feedback on Hardy),” White said. “There’s always going to be those people out there. The guy completely turned his life around. This is his second chance. He’s been excellent to deal with. Everyone who has come in contact with him since he’s been with us has said good things about him.

“The guy made a mistake. You’re always going to have the freaks who have nothing better to do who are going to run around and say this and that. What the guy did was horrible. He has a second chance here. He’s turned his life around. He got off drugs. He got off alcohol, hit rock bottom and built himself back up. What do they want the guy to do? He should never work again? He should never do anything again? Life doesn’t work that way.”

Hardy has flashed his potential at his new job. His speed and power have been on display in his two pro bouts. He still has a lot to prove defensively and needs to polish his wrestling and ground game, but Hardy insists he has been putting in the work.

White said he needs to see more before Hardy is ready for the big leagues, even though he’s further along than White had expected.

White handed out new UFC contracts to Devonte Smith, Kennedy Nzechukwu and Bobby Moffett after impressive performances on Tuesday’s episode, the final show of the second season.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@ reviewjournal.com or 702-277-8028. Follow @Adamhilllvrj on Twitter.