ROUNDTABLE: Has your opinion changed on UFC’s use of Greg Hardy?

By Michael Hiscoe, Managing Editor

January 19, 2019; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Greg Hardy reacts following his match against Allen Crowder during UFC Fight Night at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Has your opinion changed on UFC using Greg Hardy since his first fight in January?

Sean Covington, Columnist – Covington’s Corner

Nope, they shouldn’t use him and they shouldn’t put him in the co-main event but since he’s under contract and the UFC doesn’t care anyway, why not? He’s a successful fighter and controversy makes him a natural heel, which should mean money.

Patrick Shaheen, Host – MMA Scope Podcast

No, it was a joke then and is an even funnier joke now. I don’t see the star appeal Dana must see. I feel as if more people watch his fights hoping someone takes his head off more so than a good fight. Because you’re not getting a good fight if Hardy is participating.

Frank Hyden, Columnist – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

No, because I’ve never thought it was a good idea to begin with and I still don’t. Of course, the UFC can employ who they want, I just don’t see why they think it’s worth it. It’s not like Greg Hardy is going to bust pay-per-view records or viewership records or anything like that. And the odds of him becoming champion are pretty small as well, so why bother with the headache? When you’re not worth the hassle, you’re usually gone pretty quick. We see it in sports all the time. I don’t think it’s a huge deal that they’re using him, I just think it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

Christian Moore, MMATorch Contributor

So my opinion has changed. But not in the way that it has for others. Watching the fight, I tried to ignore his past. I can admit I was hyped for a guy that KO’d everyone quickly, and I was rooting for him. Now looking at him, I don’t see myself rooting for him ever again. Again even ignoring his past, yes he’s a dirtbag, he is so Amateur and unprepared. He looked very raw and wasn’t exciting. I lost the tiny bit of respect I had not just because of the knee, but because he’s being put in co-main slots as someone who sucks at fighting.

Michael Hiscoe, MMATorch Managing Editor

Similarly to Christian, my opinion has changed. When UFC first used him back in January, I was willing to accept it with an open mind. Greg Hardy looked very impressive during his two appearances on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. He looked like a killer so I was willing to accept him as a player in the UFC heavyweight division that always needs new blood. But then at UFC Brooklyn, his inexperience was glaringly obvious and the public relations risk in using Hardy no longer seemed worthwhile. So now to see UFC using him again in a featured position on a card that was originally scheduled to be on mainline ESPN is a questionable choice that I don’t support.


NEXT: HOW SHOULD ATHLETIC COMMISSIONS RULE A GROUNDED FIGHTER?


Greg Hardy is a known domestic abuser and UFC is choosing to promote him despite his lack of ability. By all indications, ESPN supports this position as well, because they have the power to veto it, and they haven’t. Let’s hope both parties get what they want out of Hardy because otherwise, what’s the point?

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