Greg Hardy announces release from the UFC after 3 consecutive losses
Following his TKO loss to Sergey Spivak, which served as his third consecutive defeat inside the octagon, the controversial Greg Hardy has seemingly been released from the UFC.
The former football defensive end switched sports and signed with the UFC in 2019. Since then, the 33-year-old has amassed a 10-fight record, winning just four of them.
In a post to his Instagram page, Greg Hardy thanked the promotion for helping him grow in the sport and assured his fans that his journey as a mixed martial artist is far from over.
"What a run, ya boy is far from done just got some fine tuning to do. Thank you to all my fans and haters. I appreciate you all. Mostly I appreciate my coaches, family, and the UFC for giving me the opportunity to shine bright."
Having fought some top talent, the experience Greg Hardy has built during his time in the octagon could be extremely valuable in his next career move. While his three-fight skid was his sole reason for being cut by the UFC, things could have looked much different for the Tennessee-native.
After beating both Yorgan De Castro and Maurice Green back-to-back, he fell short to Marcin Tybura. In his next fight against the lovable Tai Tuivasa, Hardy managed to rock the Australian on the feet. However, a lack of experience caused him to rush in, getting clipped and finished.
If Hardy had remained composed and picked his shots against Tuivasa, a win could have set him up for a fight against his short-term rival Derrick Lewis.
What's next for Greg Hardy?
As MMA is at an all-time high in terms of competition, there is no better time to be a free agent. Despite the UFC not renewing his contract, Greg Hardy has a chance to test free agency and see which deal best suits him.
A move to Bellator could be on the horizon for the American, who seeks to revive his career in the sport. The aging division could see Hardy perfectly slot in and give the promotion someone to build into the next big heavyweight star.
Another option is Khabib Nurmagomedov's Eagle FC, a place where he could make a name for himself and potentially capture 265-pound gold. If willing, a move over to bare-knuckle boxing and BKFC could result in good money and raise his brand in the process.