Greg Hardy has switched career paths.

Hardy excelled at defensive end in the NFL, but several incidents off the field, including a brutal domestic violence case, all but ended his football career. Now, he's taking his physical talents to another sporting venture: mixed martial arts.

Even though he didn't have much experience in the field previously, a number of sponsors are calling Hardy with interest, according to Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com. He has been training in the Dallas area for the last few months.

Hardy issued a brief statement on the decision, via Helwani:

“I'm very focused and excited to start my MMA career,” Hardy said in a statement provided to MMAFighting.com. “I'm going to do this the right way, I can assure you of that.”

…

“I'm fully committed to being as successful as I can be in this sport,” he said.

After playing five years with the Carolina Panthers, the organization let him go following a disturbing domestic violence case. Hardy allegedly choked his girlfriend at the time, threw her onto a bed full of assault rifles, and threatened to murder her.

Criminal charges were dropped when his ex-girlfirend didn't cooperate with authorities, but a civil settlement was reached.

Hardy was suspended for 10 games as a result, but after appealing, it was decreased to four. He played for the Dallas Cowboys in 2015.

Hardy was also charged with cocaine possession last month.