5 former NFL players who made a move into the UFC

#2. Marcus Jones – former UFC heavyweight

Despite a stellar NFL career, Marcus Jones struggled in the octagon

Although his career with the UFC spanned just one official fight and ended with him being knocked unconscious, it’s safe to say that Marcus Jones was one of the more successful NFL players to make the transition across sports.

A high-level collegiate footballer with the University of North Carolina, Jones was then drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1996 NFL Draft. He ended up staying with the team until 2002, making 85 appearances and playing his entire professional career there.

By his late 20’s, though, injuries began to mount up for Jones. When a knee injury ended his NFL career for good in 2002, it looked like his athletic career was over.

However, in 2007, at the age of 34, he made a surprising transition into the world of MMA after he began to train with the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu camp in Tampa, Florida. Clearly still a capable athlete despite his advanced age, he put together a record of 4-1 before being signed by the UFC as part of the TUF 10 cast.

Jones made an impression on the reality show, earning the nickname ‘Big Baby’ due to his sensitive nature. However, he also knocked two opponents out to make the semi-finals before being finished by Brendan Schaub.

The former NFL star’s final appearance in the octagon came at the TUF Finale. He was knocked out by fellow NFL alumni Matt Mitrione and he has not fought since.

In this case, it’s probably safe to say that Jones simply came into MMA a little too late and never had the chin required to reach the top level.

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#1. Greg Hardy – current UFC heavyweight

Greg Hardy has been the most high-profile - and controversial - NFL player to enter the octagon

Undoubtedly the most successful and infamous former NFL player to move into the UFC is current heavyweight contender Greg Hardy. In fact, were it not for his legal problems, ‘Prince of War’ may still be in the NFL today.

After starring for the University of Mississippi at the collegiate level, Hardy made his way into the NFL when he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2010. He enjoyed a tremendously successful run with the team until 2014, when he found himself in hot water thanks to a domestic violence charge.

The issue hung over the remainder of Hardy’s football career. He was let go by the Panthers in 2015, only to sign for the Dallas Cowboys under semi-controversial circumstances.

Following one season and under pressure from the public and media, the Cowboys chose not to re-sign him after a single season, essentially pushing him out of the NFL altogether.

From there, ‘Prince of War’ moved into MMA. Despite garnering a lot of criticism, the UFC chose to sign him to a developmental contract in 2018 before bringing him to the promotion fully in 2019.

Since then, Hardy has gone 4-4-1. While he clearly has athletic ability, he remains widely disliked by UFC fans, something that has probably prevented the promotion from fully pushing him as a star.

Right now, ‘Prince of War’ is on a two-fight losing streak, meaning his next appearance in the octagon may well prove to be his last.