Former NFL defensive linesman Hardy disqualified in UFC main card debut

Brooklyn, January 20: Former Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys defensive linesman Greg Hardy's main card UFC debut did not go as planned after he was disqualified.

Hardy (3-1) was disqualified for an illegal knee to Allen Crowder in the second round of Saturday's clash in New York.

Crowder was down on the ground on one knee when Hardy - who only made his mixed-martial arts debut seven months - connected at Barclays Center.

Referee Dan Miragliotta awarded Crowder (9-4) the win by disqualification at 2:28 of the second round.

Greg Hardy, who has no business being in a UFC event, is disqualified for a very illegal knee pic.twitter.com/bBnpSh6qG3

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 20, 2019

Meanwhile, Henry Cejudo has shocked the world again as he retained his flyweight title with a stunning first-round knockout against T.J. Dillashaw.

Bantamweight champion Dillashaw (17-4) was attempting to become the fourth fighter in UFC history to hold multiple titles simultaneously (Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes), but Cejudo caught him with a shot and finished him off seconds later.

HENRY CEJUDO!!!!!!!

Messaged. Sent. WOW!!!!! #UFCBrooklyn @HenryCejudo pic.twitter.com/5gx41CdUOM

— UFC (@ufc) January 20, 2019

"I busted my butt my whole life and I was able to beat one of the greatest of all time," Cejudo told ESPN after the fight. "It's just surreal. It really is."

Cejudo (13-3) has now beaten two UFC legends back to back as he handed Demetrious Johnson just the third loss of his career to earn the flyweight title just months before.