Former NFL defensive end Greg Hardy has been out of the league for three years now and doesn’t look like he’s going to make a comeback anytime soon. However, he’s apparently making progress in another athletic career.

Per MMAFighting, Hardy will fight in his first professional bout as part of UFC president Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series on June 12. Hardy will face Brandon Sayles, who is 5-1 in his MMA career and has won three fights in a row.

Hardy played six years in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys and made a Pro Bowl team in 2013. However, he was released by the Panthers after he was charged with domestic violence. He signed with the Cowboys, who were criticized for that move, and decided not to re-sign him once his one-year deal expired.

After his football prospects dried up, Hardy turned his attention to MMA. He is a perfect 3-0 in the first three amateur fights of his burgeoning MMA career, with all three ending in very quick knockout victories. His most recent win came in February 2018 against Ryan Chester, which resulted in a devastating knockout win.

This appearance to the Tuesday Night Contender Series represents a significant step up in competition for Hardy, whose first three opponents weren’t exactly of the highest caliber. If he comes away victorious, he will likely earn himself a fight in an actual UFC card, which would be an even bigger step up.

Hardy won't be the first football player to step foot in the UFC Octagon, but he's the most accomplished.  Matt Mitrione, who played nine games in the NFL for the New York Giants in 2002, was perhaps the most notable former football player who actually played in the NFL and successfully transitioned to an MMA career with the UFC and Bellator.