Former UFC heavyweight and NFL player Greg Hardy weighed in at 132 kg (approximately 291 pounds), approximately 25 pounds over the heavyweight limit for a non-title fight on Friday.
The 37-year-old “Prince of War” Hardy is scheduled to face four-fight UFC veteran Darko Stosic this Saturday at a Fight Nation Championship event in Belgrade, Serbia.
132 kile na vagi za Grega Hardija, 12 iznad granice za tešku kategoriju.Apsolutni bezobrazluk, vidi se da ga boli kurac. Darko će da ga pošalje za Ameriku u kovčegu.#FNC31 pic.twitter.com/CyZHCi2lrQ
— Kavez MMA (@KavezMma) May 29, 2026
Since departing the UFC in 2022, former heavyweight fighter and ex-NFL defensive end Greg Hardy has pursued opportunities across multiple combat sports, including professional boxing, bare-knuckle fighting, and a return to mixed martial arts. While his transition initially showed promise, the results have been inconsistent, with notable victories offset by several high-profile knockout losses.
Hardy’s UFC run ended in March 2022 following a three-fight losing streak, concluding a tenure in which he compiled a 4-5 record with one no contest. Shortly after leaving the promotion, he announced plans to pursue professional boxing while also signing a multi-fight agreement with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
Boxing Successes Follow UFC Exit
Hardy made his professional boxing debut in October 2022, stopping Mike Cook in the second round. He followed that performance with a unanimous decision victory over Hasim Rahman Jr. the following month, a result that attracted significant attention given Rahman’s boxing pedigree.
In September 2023, Hardy improved his professional boxing record to 3-0 with a victory over Gregory Corbin, appearing to establish momentum in his new sport.
However, that momentum proved difficult to sustain. While competing in Team Combat League events and other boxing appearances, Hardy suffered several knockout defeats. In June 2023, Alexander Flores stopped him during a Team Combat League contest, and in May 2024 he was knocked out by Patrick Mailata. The setbacks raised questions about his long-term prospects as a boxer despite his physical advantages and athletic background.
Another significant setback occurred in December 2024 when Russian boxer Alexei Papin knocked Hardy out in Moscow, handing him the first official loss of his professional boxing career.
Bare-Knuckle Debut Ends Quickly
Despite signing with BKFC in 2022, Hardy delayed his bare-knuckle debut while focusing on boxing. He eventually entered the BKFC ring at KnuckleMania 3 in February 2023 against Josh Watson.
The appearance did not go as planned. Watson stopped Hardy by knockout in the second round, leaving Hardy with an 0-1 record in bare-knuckle competition. To date, it remains his only documented BKFC bout.
Return to MMA
While Hardy initially shifted his focus toward striking-based sports, he later returned to mixed martial arts outside the UFC. Reports indicate he secured an MMA victory over Phillip Latu in January 2025, marking his first professional MMA win since his UFC tenure.
More recently, Hardy returned to headlines ahead of a scheduled bout against former UFC heavyweight Darko Stosic at Fight Nation Championship 31 in Serbia. However, controversy surrounded the event after Hardy missed the heavyweight limit by approximately 25 pounds during official weigh-ins.
A Career Still Searching for Stability
Four years removed from the UFC, Hardy’s combat sports journey remains one of the more unusual second acts in modern fighting. He has competed across professional boxing, bare-knuckle fighting, exhibition boxing leagues, and MMA promotions, demonstrating a willingness to test himself in multiple formats. Yet while he has collected several victories, recurring knockout losses and inconsistency have prevented him from establishing sustained success in any one discipline.
As Hardy continues competing in 2025 and beyond, his post-UFC career remains a story defined by activity, experimentation, and unpredictability rather than championship contention.
