Greg Hardy Discusses UFC Contender Series, Derrick Lewis' Trash Talk

Former NFL defensive end Greg Hardy said Wednesday he's "ecstatic" and "excited" to take part in Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series for the UFC in June.

In an interview with TMZ Sports, Hardy said he was grateful for the opportunity to fight for a UFC contract. His chance to impress White will come June 12 when he takes on Brandon Sayles in a heavyweight bout.

Also, UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis recently called Hardy out, and Hardy responded by saying he's "humbled" that Lewis mentioned him.

In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Lewis called Hardy a "wife-beater."

Lewis added: "I'll fight Greg Hardy. ... It'll be like vice versa him beating on a woman. I'll be beating him like he was a woman."

Hardy was convicted of domestic violence against his former girlfriend, but the decision was overturned upon appeal in 2015 when she could not be contacted to participate in the trial.

The situation led to Hardy being placed on the commissioner's exempt list for nearly the entire 2014 NFL season before signing with the Cowboys in 2015. He hasn't played in the NFL since the end of the 2015 season.

Instead, Hardy has transitioned to the world of MMA, and he is 3-0 as an amateur. In his most recent fight, he beat Ryan Chester by knockout in just 14 seconds.

By comparison, Lewis is 19-5 as a professional, and he is coming off a technical knockout win over Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros in February.

If Hardy beats Sayles and impress the UFC brass in June, an eventual fight with Lewis could be in the cards.