MMAjunkie.com was first to report the heavyweight booking. UFC 270 takes pace on Jan. 22 at an as yet to be announced location and will also include a pivotal middleweight bout between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier.
A former NFL Pro Bowl defensive lineman, Hardy has compiled a 7-4 mark with one no contest since turning pro in 2018. The American Top Team product is 4-4 in the Octagon and has suffered back-to-back KO/TKO defeats at the hands of Marcin Tybura and Tai Tuivasa in his last two UFC appearances.
The 44-year-old Oleynik will attempt to halt a three-fight UFC skid when he squares off against Hardy. Oleynik’s current slump includes knockout losses against Derrick Lewis and Chris Daukaus as well as a decision defeat to Sergey Spivak in his last outing at UFC on ESPN 25. “The Boa Constrictor” hasn’t tasted victory since earning a split verdict over ex-champ Fabricio Werdum at UFC 249. Oleynik is 59-16-1 over the course of a career that began in 1996.