Dana White not opposed to signing troubled ex-NFL player Greg Hardy after he gets some MMA experience

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding former NFL lineman Greg Hardy’s recent announcement that he’s going to pursue a career in mixed martial arts. His checkered past and legal trouble, which includes domestic violence charges and cocaine possession, bled over into his professional career and has kept him off the football field.

Many have criticized the move, including NFL and UFC analyst Jay Glazer, who has called for MMA promotions to steer clear from the troubled 28-year-old. However, that suggestion doesn’t quite ring true for UFC president Dana White.

White appeared on FS1’s Speak for Yourself show and addressed the possibility of Hardy transitioning into the world of MMA. Although he said he wouldn’t bring Hardy into the promotion right now, he wouldn’t rule it out if the former Dallas Cowboy proved he was good enough.

“I’m one of those guys too who believes that we’re all human beings and we all make mistakes,” White said. “And when you make a mistake, you pay your penance, whatever it might be, and you should be allowed to make a living and move on in your life. Is he good enough to come into the UFC and fight? I highly doubt it.”

Apparently, the legal troubles don’t scare off White. Although there is some concern considering that domestic violence and mixed martial arts have been tied together. An HBO Real Sports episode last year focused heavily on the history of domestic violence in MMA, with an emphasis on the infamous incident with ex-UFC/Bellator fighter War Machine and former girlfriend Christy Mack. Bringing Hardy into the UFC would certainly be questionable from a media standpoint.

But White believes that Hardy deserves a second chance. Whether or not that second chance eventually finds Hardy in the UFC is anyone’s guess.

“I’m not saying he should be welcomed here, but I’m saying I’m a guy who believes that if you make a mistake, your life isn’t over, go kill yourself or something,” White said. “You made a mistake, you pay for it. When you make mistakes, it’s all about how you act from there on out. How do you handle yourself after that and what do you do to fix it.”

Ultimately, it will be up to Hardy’s performance as an MMA fighter that will decide if he ever competes in the Octagon.

“I’ve been playing football for a couple weeks too, maybe I’ll try out for the (New England) Patriots?” White joked. “It takes a little bit longer than that, but he could fight at one of these small shows. We’ll see how he looks, and I don’t know.”