Former star NFL defensive end Greg Hardy will make his sophomore MMA appearance live on FloCombat on Friday, Dec. 1, in the main event of AKA: Rite of Passage 2.

Hardy (1-0, one knockout) played six seasons in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys, notching 40 total sacks and earning both second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2013, when he recorded 15 sacks as a member of the Panthers. 

However, controversies off the field would tarnish Hardy's stellar NFL career, as he was arrested in 2014 for allegedly assaulting his then-ex-girlfriend. Those charges were later dropped, but Hardy's career never recovered. 

Since that time, Hardy shifted his focus to MMA, training with the esteemed American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. 

As was the case for fighters such as Tim Means, Matt Brown, Jimi Manuwa, Alexander Gustafsson, and countless others, Hardy is using MMA as a source of guidance and an opportunity to put the past behind him and work toward another successful athletic career. 

Instead of the gridiron, Hardy now calls the steel cage home, and he will look to build on his impressive 32-second knockout in his debut when he takes on Kenneth Woods on Friday at AKA: Rite of Passage 2. 

The event goes down live from Bossier City, LA, streaming exclusively on FloCombat. 

The card also features the return of Hailey Cowan (1-0), a highly touted former Division I athlete with massive potential and promise, and LFA vet Spencer Flores, who is coming off a first-round submission victory in his pro debut at LFA 23 in September. 

Stream live FloCombat events anytime, on any device!

TV: Download the FloSports TV app on Roku and AppleTV 4

Mobile: Download the FloSports iPhone app

Web: Bookmark FloCombat.com in your favorite browser