Former NFL player sent to shadow realm in sickening KO

The boxing world has been horrified by viral footage of a former NFL player crumpling over. WARNING: Distressing content.

Former NFL player Greg Hardy has suffered another sickening knockout loss with footage of his latest defeat going viral.

Retirement is staring the former UFC fighter in the face after he was knocked out cold during a professional boxing fight with Alexei Papin in Moscow, Russia, on Saturday (AEDT).

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Hardy went into the fight full of confidence but he was no-match for Papin, who ended the fight with a devastating combination of punches in the third round that sent Hardy crumpling to the floor.

You can watch the brutal knockout in the video player above.

Hardy was on a three-fight win streak in exhibition fights, but his time in Russia has ended in a nightmare.

He was motionless on the ground for more than 10 seconds after hitting the canvas hard.

He was eventually able to get back to his feet before stumbling into the ropes again as the crowd inside the Megasport Sport Palace went nuts.

Greg Hardie crumpled after the combination of punches.

Hardy has re-assured his supporters he is in good health in a message shared on Instagram.

“I came to Russia alone on short notice to fight a monster with 18 wins and tested my metal,” he posted.

“Got two knock downs and went toe toe. I don’t take easy fights, I don’t fight fake fights I fight real killers and sometimes the price is high but I will pay it to become the best no? Thank you to everyone that helped me get to this point.”

He has been on a rampage of fights in recent years, including another sickening KO loss in May.

He was knocked out cold when he squared off with fellow heavyweight Patrick Mailata in the United States.

Greg Hardie was out. Photo: Twitter, @ATokkers5.

Hardy has absorbed a disturbing amount of pain in his combat sports career after he quit the NFL in 2016.

Hardy was also stopped in another Team Combat League bout last year.

Hardy had stints with the Panthers and Cowboys during his six-year NFL career, which included one All-Pro and Pro Bowl season in 2013, in which he recorded 15 sacks.

His football career took a disturbing turn after a domestic violence incident involving his ex-girlfriend, in which photos were published following the incident.

Greg Hardy got knocked out again in May. Twitter, @HappyPunch.

Down he goes. Twitter, @HappyPunch.

Following his NFL career, Hardy began training for and competing in mixed martial arts in 2016.

Hardy showed early potential in the octagon, building a 3-0 amateur record and starting 3-0 in MMA as a professional, impressing UFC commissioner Dana White enough to get a contract with the promotion.

Hardy made his UFC debut in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on the undercard of Henry Cejudo vs. TJ Dillashaw in January 2019.

Hardy lost the fight by disqualification due to an illegal knee delivered to Allen Crowder.

Hardy remained with the promotion for another three years, building a 4-2 record in the UFC prior to three straight knockout losses.

The former Pro Bowler was also knocked out in a bare-knuckle boxing bout against Josh Watson as part of BKFC’s KnuckleMania 3 from February, 2023.