Former NFL star Greg Hardy has a troubling history with domestic violence. But this week at Dana White‘s Tuesday Night Contender Series, Hardy knocked out Austen Lane in 57 seconds, prompting Dana White to sign Hardy to a developmental deal. Given Hardy’s past, that signing has proven highly controversial, not only with fans but with fighters as well, including one up-and-coming young fighter who has been a victim of domestic violence before.

Rising UFC flyweight Jessica-Rose Clark is a survivor of a brutal domestic violence attack and she spoke out against the Hardy signing on a recent edition of the Phone Booth Fighting podcast.

“I had a spate with domestic violence before I moved out here to Vegas,” Clark explained. ”That’s actually why I moved to Vegas. I had my fiance - at the time - arrested on one count of attempted murder and two counts of assault. . .

“He didn’t get convicted. He got a 15-month suspended sentence, still allowed to leave the country. They gave him his second chance and I’m a firm believer that someone who is capable of going as far as he went with me – and I know he’s been further with other women before I met him – he’s not going to change. He can do all the convincing and all the lying in the world and he can convince you that he’s a really good person, but who he is at his core is someone who’s capable and willing to do stuff like that.

“So I am very against Greg [Hardy] being signed because I don’t believe that people like that change.“

Clark was assaulted by her fiance, MMA fighter Julian Wallace, in 2016. Wallace kicked Clark in the head while wearing boots, hit her in the face, kneed her in the ribs, threw her on the ground and choked her before Clark was able to break out of the choke and knock Wallace out with a head kick. Wallace plead guilty to the charges. Hardy’s victim was not as lucky.

In 2014, Hardy was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend, throwing her into furniture, choking her, and threatening to kill her. He was found guilty of assault and communicating threats. Eventually the charges were dropped on appeal as the victim failed to appear in court to continue the proceedings. Hardy was suspended for 10 games by the NFL (reduced down to four on appeal) but washed out of the league shortly afterwards after clashing with teammates and coaches. Now, Hardy has moved onto a second career that seems likely to be successful given his athletic abilities but Clark thinks the UFC shouldn’t be a party to it because it just perpetuates the behavior.

“Athletic ability seems to supersede any negative thing you do in your life,” Clark said. “You see it time and time again, like Kobe Bryant. It happens so often and it blows my mind that that’s where our society is at. Like, ‘Oh, he did all these really terrible things, but he’s an amazing athlete, so f**k it, let’s just let him keep going and let him keep making his millions and let him keep being on TV.’ There’s no punishment.

“What stops him from going and doing it to the next girlfriend? I promise you that wasn’t the first girlfriend that he did that to but he didn’t get punished for that one, either. He didn’t get punished for the first one and he didn’t get punished for that one and now he’s going to be televised on one of the largest broadcasts in the world, for one of the most popular sports in the world. Where the f**k is the punishment? What’s stopping him from doing it to every girl that comes into contact with him?”

Jessica-Rose Clark is scheduled to face Jessica Eye in a pivotal flyweight clash on the main card of UFC Singapore next weekend.

MUST-READ STORIES

Plea deal. Conor McGregor team negotiating plea deal, next hearing set for July 26.

Statement. Video: Conor McGregor appears at Brooklyn courthouse, releases statement.

Manager. Audie Attar: Conor McGregor team focusing solely on legal matters.

Brawl. Kamaru Usman describes ‘surreal’ brawl at PFL show.

Gus. Alexander Gustafsson responds to possible Yoel Romero fight, lays out future plans.

VIDEO STEW

Please book this fight immediately.

Continuing the series, see where Khabib was raised.

An argument against stacked cards.

Valhalla Journey.

How UFC 225 should have ended.

LISTEN UP

Heavy Hands. Recapping the majesty of Whittaker-Romero II.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

She wants the fight.

Controversy.

Apparently Thiago couldn’t make it so Fight has been scrapped. Couldn’t find a replacement in time. Thank you @ACB_League for trying to find another opponent. #WhereIsThisGuy? pic.twitter.com/hngCXsrHzS — Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) June 14, 2018

Shade.

Just because the ”BOSS” DC @dc_mma said so lets do it Yoel @YoelRomeroMMA Obviously both of you have difficulties making weight — Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) June 14, 2018

Unhappy.

You mad, bro?

Dude you sucked at #ufc225 you were just lucky your opponent sucked more. Stop talking shit and worry about winning a fight against a pro fighter with a win.... #ShitTalker #ShutUp — Damien Brown (@beatdown155) June 14, 2018

Ragin’ Al.

Not sure what the @ufc is posting this for... @danawhite said this fight is definitely not happening. https://t.co/1lyFGhZcf7 — Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) June 14, 2018

Definitely not fight of the year — Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) June 14, 2018

Im way better than that — Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) June 14, 2018

Definitely not a war — Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) June 14, 2018

Got ‘em.

I’m upset — Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) June 14, 2018

Nah I’m playing. Hope everyone having a great week ✌ — Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) June 14, 2018

Gadelha needs knee surgery.

GALERA, ACABEI DE SAIR DO MÉDICO. VOU TER QUE OPERAR O JOELHO SEMANA QUE VEM. MACHUQUEI O JOELHO DUAS SEMANAS ANTES DA LUTA E NÃO QUIS DESMARCAR, ENTÃO LUTEI ASSIM MESMO. O QUE TIROU TODA MINHA MOBILIDADE EM PÉ. OBRIGADA AOS AMIGOS E FÃS VERDADEIROS. E VAMOS NESSA!! — Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) June 14, 2018

Fighters still coming out against the possible change.

.@danawhite the morning weigh ins are so much better! More time for us to recover and less time that we have to be dehydrated. If you are some one who misses weight, you are someone who misses weight no matter what time it is! Please don’t change it! @ufc — Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) June 14, 2018

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Efrain Escudero (29-13) vs. Jason High (21-6); PFL 2, June 21.

Luis Pena (4-0) vs. Richie Smullen (3-0-1); The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale, July 6.

Raoni Barcelos (11-1) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (17-4, 1 NC); UFC Boise, July 14.

Mark De La Rosa (9-1) vs. Elias Garcia (5-0); UFC Boise, July 14.

Jimmie Rivera (21-2) vs. John Dodson (20-9); UFC 228, Sep. 8.

TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2006: Hermes Franca submitted Brandon Olsen with an armbar to retain his lightweight title at the fortuitously named WEC 21: Tapout. This event was also notable for featuring the WEC debut of Brian Stann, who knocked out Miguel Cosio in 16 seconds.

2013: Rashad Evans won a split decision over Dan Henderson a UFC 161. This event is also notable for Stipe Miocic getting the first big win of his MMA career, a unanimous decision over Roy Nelson.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading y’all. Not a lot going on this weekend so enjoy the time off and see everybody back here on Monday!

EXIT POLL

Poll Should Dana have signed Greg Hardy? This poll is closed. 38% Yes (543 votes)

61% No (884 votes) 1427 votes total Vote Now

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram, add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting, and like us on Facebook.