The Cage Collects: Greg Hardy's Latest KO Loss Proves Sport's Unflinching Devotion to Karmic Justice
Greg Hardy's most recent foray shows the harsher side of MMA.
MMA remains a sport of accountability. Sooner or later, consequences fall, and a sense of karmic justice appears. For Greg Hardy, Saturday's loss to Darko Stošić proved once again that the cage metes out responsibility like few sports. Now, before delving into Hardy's life outside the mat, his unappreciative treatment of the sport that gave him a second chance still resonates.
Before Stošić knocked Greg Hardy out at the 2:42 mark of the second round, the lead-up to the fight saw the former NFL defensive end take the entire process for granted. First, Hardy weighed in at 292.3 pounds, falling short of the weight limit by 26.3 pounds. Meanwhile, Stošić weighed 239.8, well within the limit. A right hand snapped Hardy's head, crashing him to the canvas. The loss drops Hardy to 8-6.
Fans Relish Greg Hardy Knockout Saturday
However, the majority of fans on social media seemed to enjoy watching Hardy lose. Granted, fight fans always support their favorites. However, Greg Hardy's past unites the worldwide enmity aimed at him.
As a member of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, he excelled on the field. However, on May 13, 2014, Hardy was arrested for domestic violence, physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend while threatening her. Two months later, he was found guilty of assault, but his appeal and his ex-girlfriend failed to show up in court. Hardy walked free, but the league had its say. Deadspin posted the photos/files of the incident.
Greg Hardy's Star Rises, Quickly Falls
After a brief amateur career, he found his way onto Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series, signing a UFC contract. With careful matchmaking, the UFC helped Hardy gain the slightest measure of traction. The veil of invincibility fell when he illegally used an inhaler against Ben Sosoli.
Hardy's ascent up the rankings fell silent when opponents began to tee off on Hardy and his lack of head movement, which became a target for punches. Now, at age 37 and the bright lights of the UFC a distant memory, Hardy fell into regular opponent status, not even a gatekeeper. While imperfect, eventually MMA evens the odds and levels the metaphorical playing field.
