Greg Hardy’s latest attempt at combat sports took an abrupt, unsettling turn in Russia.
According to The New York Post, the former NFL defensive end was making his boxing debut in an exhibition bout against MMA fighter Evgeny Goncharov in Vologda on Friday, November 28.
But the matchup unraveled in the third round and never concluded.
Facing Goncharov, Hardy struggled to gain momentum as the fight wore on. By the third round, he absorbed a series of clean punches that clearly took a toll.
Moments later, the bout shifted from competitive to concerning when Hardy doubled over in his corner as officials and ringside medical staff rushed to check on him. The fight was quickly stopped, ending the exhibition early.
Video from the event captured the distressing scene. While seated on his stool, Hardy could be heard asking for medical assistance, specifically requesting his asthma medication.
“I need my inhaler,” Hardy said, according to footage circulating on social media, as the ringside doctor continued his evaluation. The stoppage was ultimately ruled due to an asthma attack, preventing Hardy from continuing.
Hardy, now 37, has spent the past decade moving between professional sports. He first rose to prominence in the NFL after being selected in the sixth round of the 2010 draft out of Mississippi.
As a defensive end with the Carolina Panthers, Hardy developed into one of the league’s more productive pass rushers, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2013 after recording 13 sacks. He later played for the Dallas Cowboys before his career ended in 2015.
After being released by Dallas in 2016, Hardy pivoted to mixed martial arts, signing with the UFC and compiling a 7–5–1 record across 13 bouts. In recent years, he transitioned again—this time toward boxing—leading up to the most recent exhibition fight in Russia.
Hardy’s departure from the NFL came during a period marked by off-field issues. In 2014, he was arrested and initially convicted on charges of assault and making threats, though that conviction was overturned on appeal the following year. In 2016, he was also arrested for cocaine possession.