5 reasons why UFC 272 should mark the end of Greg Hardy's time in the octagon

#2. Greg Hardy is on a relatively expensive deal by the UFC’s standards

Greg Hardy made over $100k for his fight with Tai Tuivasa, an highly paid deal by UFC standards

While it’s a huge point of contention with both the fans and a number of fighters, the fact is that while the UFC pays its top stars well, the promotion still likes to keep a tight belt when it comes to salaries.

This usually means that if the older fighters on bigger deals begin to fall out of contention or begin to lose their drawing power with the fans, the UFC is much more likely to cut them loose than if they were a younger fighter on a cheaper deal.

With that in mind, it seems to make plenty of sense for the promotion to allow their relationship with Greg Hardy to come to a conclusion after this weekend’s event.

Considering his lack of experience and his relatively poor octagon record, Hardy is on a surprisingly hefty deal with the UFC. That's probably due to his big name status from his days with the NFL.

It’s hard to find much information about how much money Hardy made for some of his earlier bouts in the octagon. However, a report from The Sports Daily in 2021 claimed that ‘The Prince of War’ was paid $106,000 for his loss to Tai Tuivasa at UFC 264.

When you consider the fact that most of the UFC’s fighters are on a show/win contract, it’s easy to draw the conclusion that with a win, Hardy could’ve made upwards of $200k. That would’ve made him that event’s third-highest paid fighter, behind only Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.

Put simply, when you consider his actual achievements, that’s crazy and it’s highly unlikely that the UFC will want to continue spending that much money on him. In this case, their only option is to cut him loose.

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#1. Greg Hardy has failed to live up to the hype

Greg Hardy has largely failed to live up to expectations during his UFC run

When the UFC inked Greg Hardy to what was initially a “developmental deal” in 2018 despite the former NFL star having zero MMA experience, the idea was that the promotion was capitalizing on his potential.

While Hardy lacked experience and actual fighting skill back then, what he did seem to possess was raw power, size and explosive athleticism; basically, the raw ingredients that could make him a title contender in the future.

However, in the years that have followed, he simply hasn’t lived up to the expectations around him at all. Sure, he hits hard, but he doesn’t appear to carry the one-shot knockout power that his physical ability would suggest. Despite his vaunted athleticism, his cardio and speed haven’t held up at all against the UFC’s other heavyweights.

Essentially, the struggles that Hardy has faced in the octagon have made a mockery of the idea that the NFL houses the world’s best athletes. Despite winning four fights, his four losses mean that he’s still as far away from title contention as he was when he first arrived in the promotion.

So, is there any point in the UFC persisting with him in the hopes that he’ll suddenly live up to his potential?

The truth is no, as it’s unlikely that the potential they saw was truly ever there in the first place. He’s simply a big, strong guy who hits relatively hard, making him no different to the other various heavyweights who’ve come and gone from the promotion over the years.