Defensive end Greg Hardy is to pursue a career in MMA after failing to find a NFL team willing to sign him following his release by the Dallas Cowboys.
The 28-year-old has been without a team since being released by the Cowboys following a one-season stint with the club.
And having failed to sign for a new team for the 2016 season, Hardy has decided to change his focus from football to MMA and hopes to make a successful transition into the sport.
"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."
He added: "I'm fully committed to being as successful as I can be in this sport."
Hardy made six sacks in 12 matches for the Cowboys during the 2015 season, having missed the opening four matches of the campaign due to a suspension relating to a domestic violence incident which occurred during his time at the Carolina Panthers.