5 reasons to watch UFC Fight Night 143: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw

#2 We’ll find out if Greg Hardy is worth the trouble

Will Greg Hardy be worth the bad publicity he's garnered for the UFC

The co-main event of the show sees perhaps the most controversial debut in UFC history, as former NFL defensive end Greg Hardy steps into the Octagon for the first time to take on Allen Crowder. An ultra-athletic, giant Heavyweight with a clear mean streak, someone like Hardy would usually be considered a hot prospect, but there’s a lot more to consider with him than his fighting skills.

As everyone knows by now, Hardy has a chequered past involving serious domestic violence allegations; he was actually found guilty of domestic assault in 2014, only for the charges to be dropped when the victim failed to appear in court. Essentially it’s a bad look for the UFC – who once released fighters like Will Chope and Thiago Silva under similar circumstances.

Dana White has argued that everyone deserves a second chance, however, and this is Hardy’s. If he can beat Crowder in impressive fashion then maybe the post-show talk will be about his fighting skill rather than his past transgressions; if he loses, or puts on a poor show, then the UFC may well decide that he’s not worth the bother. Either way, it’s something fascinating to watch for on Saturday.