Greg Hardy Believes Upcoming UFC Event Will Be ‘Perfect Release’ During Pandemic

If all goes as planned, Greg Hardy will kick of the UFC 249 pay-per-view card when he squares off against Yorgan De Castro in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 9.

The card looked a lot different before the coronavirus pandemic took hold, as it was originally slated for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on April 18. It was then temporarily relocated to tribal land in California on that same date, but the promotion scrapped those plans at the request of ESPN and Disney executives.

Hardy is confident that the current iteration of UFC 249 will proceed as scheduled. And if it does get moved, he’s willing to move along with it.

“I’ve signed the contract a couple times. I’m definitely in there,” Hardy told TMZ Sports. “Whenever it happens, I’m in there. I think it’s gonna be more official than it has been the last two times. He’s talked to the president of ESPN…You know [UFC president Dana White], he’s always checking off boxes, getting it done somehow. I’m pretty confident in May 9, pretty excited for it too.”

The former NFL star has no qualms about competing during the outbreak, and he believes the UFC can be therapeutic for those who are stuck at home during this time of social distancing.

“I’m an entertainer, man. Smiling and enjoying watching fights would be the perfect release with everything that’s happening right now — watching some of your favorite entertainers go out and go crazy and enjoy themselves,” Hardy said. “I think my mentality has always been the same, down for the team, you know. These guys need to put on a big card…they need some people that are down to fight. I wanted to be the first to step up and say, ‘I got you guys.’”

Hardy’s first year in the UFC was an active one, as he competed five times in the Octagon over the course of 2019. The American Top Team representative is scheming on ways to remain similarly active in the coming months as well, and he is even willing to set up shop on Fight Island when the proposed venue is fully operational.

"I'm saying it right now Dana, man, listen, if you have [living] quarters, I'll stay on the island, bro. I'm not ashamed to move in. We can fight every couple of weeks, dude,” Hardy said.

"With all seriousness. Let's run it.”

Hardy also has an extended plan for moving up the heavyweight ladder in the coming months.

"This is my dream scenario,” Hardy said. "After this fight, I come back, get this knockout [against De Castro]. Remind everybody who it is. I think the UFC [rankings] starts at top 15. I think we start with 15 and go down the line. Fifteen fights later I knock out the guy holding the belt, whoever it is.”