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After destroying all six of his amateur and professional opponents all by way of first-round knockouts, Greg Hardy’s UFC debut was just a matter of time. And that time will reportedly be on January 19th at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York for UFC Fight Night.
The 6’5”, 265 pound former Pro Bowl defensive lineman will face Allen Crowder (9-3), who hasn’t fought since December 2017 but who has five of nine wins by knockout. Contracts have not yet been signed, but UFC President Dana White told ESPN that the heavyweight fight, which will be broadcast on ESPN+ 1, is close to being finalized.
Here’s where things get dicey.
UFC scheduled Hardy to fight on the same card as Rachael Ostovich, whose husband faces a second-degree assault charge for allegedly beating her last month, claiming she suffered a broken orbital bone. Hardy’s professional football career was cut short in 2015 because of off-the-field issues, including a 2014 conviction in a domestic violence case. Hardy had the charges dropped after the victim failed to show up at court.
Dana White has expressed that Hardy’s checkered past will “follow him for the rest of his life” and is willing to give the 30-year-old a second chance. I think a lot of people can get on board with a rebirth, but to throw Hardy on a card that would undoubtedly garner controversy is just sloppy.
I love how the UFC is going to have Greg Hardy fighting on the same card as Rachael Ostovich. The winner that night will be tone deafness.
— Douglas Charles (@Douglazilla) December 5, 2018
There was really only one fight card that you absolutely, positively could not put Greg Hardy on without making the whole situation even worse. And the UFC put him on exactly that fight card. https://t.co/YsWHoL6I1K
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) December 5, 2018
He's (Greg Hardy) is making his @ufc debut on the same card as Rachel Ostovich who was recently a victim of domestic violence. Not sure they (UFC) thought this one through. Just my $.02 🤔 https://t.co/4ueDxPSfPF
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) December 5, 2018
.@bokamotoESPN is reporting that Greg Hardy will make his UFC debut on the same Jan. 19 card that Rachael Ostovich will fight on. That’s incredibly poor judgment by the UFC and so easily avoidable.
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) December 5, 2018
Greg Hardy’s eventual UFC debut was always going to be controversial and met with heavy criticism. However, to debut him on the same card as Rachael Ostovich (on the first ESPN card, no less) is a dubious decision at best and incredibly tone-deaf. https://t.co/lqd8BYW9GA
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 5, 2018
Absolutely abhorrent of the UFC to schedule Greg Hardy's debut for the same card Rachael Ostovich is fighting on. Is it really possible they're that careless? Unbelievable.
— Tom Taylor (@TomTaylorWrites) December 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/LaurenMurphyMMA/status/1070343991399374853
Dana White has yet to respond to the uproar.
[h/t ESPN]