Mark Hunt News

Justin Golightly - December 21, 2017

The Super Samoan has been in the UFC for eight years. That’s nearly a whole career right there, but we’re talking about a combat sports life that dates all the way back to 1998. You name a place and Mark Hunt has probably punched someone there. Chances are, it was also a walk-off knockout. After all this time and his love/hate relationship with the organization, Hunt is finally going to part ways with the UFC after he fights out his contract. “We’ll get that number nine [Curtis Blaydes] and put him away, so hopefully the UFC can give me someone higher instead of giving me someone beneath me. So, it is what it is. I just gotta keep ticking the boxes and just moving ahead with the career. Three fights left, this will be one of them, I got two left and then see you later. For the UFC, yeah. That will be the end of my career in the UFC [after I fight out of my contract]. I have two fights left and that’s it. You probably know the path I’ve had with the UFC, but you know, it’s business.”

Tom Taylor - December 13, 2017

Yesterday morning, UFC heavyweight legend Mark Hunt took to social media with a threatening message directed at his next opponent. He did not, however, specify who that next opponent was. “You have called me out, and now I’m going to give it to you right in that big mouth of yours,” Hunt said in this post, which has since been deleted “I’m going to wrap this gift up nice and tight for you boii so you never compete again at this level. The only good thing I can say about you is you are not a spineless coward mutt like ‘Werbum’. There isn’t anything worse for me than someone who is scared to fight like ‘Werbum.’”

Russell Ess - December 12, 2017

Now that UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt has been medically cleared to fight in the Octagon again, all he needs is an opponent. Speaking with Sporting News, “The Super Samoan” is still looking to get a rematch with former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum after losing by TKO at their UFC 180 match in 2014.

Tom Taylor - December 12, 2017

Having been cleared to fight again by doctors, and given the ‘OK’ by the UFC, long-time heavyweight contender Mark Hunt is now getting ready for his next challenge. While the opponent for his next bout is not yet known, he has a threatening message for one nameless heavyweight who has apparently called him out. He’s also got plenty to say about former champion Fabricio Werdum, who apparently turned down a fight with him. U have called me out and now I’m going to give it to u right in that big mouth of yours I’m going to wrap this gift 🎁 up nice and tight for u boiii so u never compete again at this level the only good thing I can say about u is u are not a spineless coward mutt like werbum there isn’t anything worst for me than someone who is scared to fight like werbum #standupinthegameormovethefuckasidebitch #FUKMEDED #someonesgettingrolled 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂👀👀👀👀👀👀

Tom Taylor - December 5, 2017

After penning a tell-all piece for the publication Players Voice, in which he admitted to many of the symptoms of brain injury, UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt was plucked from a planned bout with Marcin Tybura, and shelved indefinitely by the UFC. The plan, the organization revealed, was to have Hunt undergo extensive testing before allowing him to return to the cage. According to a report from The Daily Telegraph, Hunt’s test results are in, and they’re good. This report, which sites a Tuesday conference call with specialists from the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, claims Hunt has been declared fit to continue competing. Hunt’s manager subsequently confirmed this news.

Tom Taylor - October 31, 2017

The issues between UFC President Dana White and UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt are both longstanding and well known. The latest chapter in the pair’s ongoing beef occurred when Hunt admitted to having symptoms of brain injury in an op-ed for Players Voice, and was subsequently pulled from a UFC Sydney headlining scrap with Marcin Tybura as a result. Since his removal from the card, Hunt has repeatedly criticized the UFC, while White was moved to pen an open letter for The Daily Telegraph in an attempt to clear the air about the situation.

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2017

Originally, UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt was expected to return opposite Marcin Tybura in the main event of the UFC’s upcoming show in Sydney, Australia. Yet shortly after Hunt wrote an op-ed for Players Voice, in which he admitted to suffering from many symptoms of brain injury, he was pulled from this fight and replaced by Fabricio Werdum. Unsurprisingly, Mark Hunt was not especially pleased about this turn of events. Since his removal from UFC Sydney, he has unleashed a stream of criticisms of the UFC and its show-runner Dana White.

Tom Taylor - October 23, 2017

Originally, heavyweight legend Mark Hunt was expected to return to the cage opposite Marcin Tybura in the main event of the UFC’s November return to Sydney, Australia. When Hunt admitted he was dealing with symptoms of brain injury in an interview with PlayersVoice, however, the UFC pulled him from the fight for the good of his health. He was replaced by Fabricio Werdum. Unsurprisingly, Hunt is not happy that he was pulled from this fight and deprived of the resulting payday. Since it all went down, he’s berated the UFC for this move.

Tom Taylor - October 11, 2017

Earlier this week, we learned that UFC heavyweight contender Mark Hunt had been pulled from his UFC Sydney headlining bout with Marcin Tybura, and replaced my Fabricio Werdum. Initially, the reason for Hunt’s withdrawal from this fight wasn’t evident. Eventually, however, it became clear that the UFC had removed him from the bout over “medical concerns” stemming from an article he wrote, during which he talked about slurring his words and his willingness to die fighting. “Following a recent first-person article published by UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt, UFC has taken the precautionary steps of removing Hunt from a previously announced bout in Sydney, Australia,” a statement issued to News.com.au said. “The health-related statements made by Hunt in the article represent the first time UFC was made aware of these claims. Athlete health and safety is of the utmost importance to the organization and it would never knowingly schedule an athlete complaining of health issues for a fight. The organization will require that Hunt undergo further testing and evaluations prior to competing in any future UFC bout.”

Justin Golightly - October 10, 2017

We’ve had a while week of fight cancellations and curve balls. For UFC 216, Kevin Lee nearly missed weight, Derrick Lewis pulled out of his fight with Fabricio Werdum, Walt Harris was removed from his fight with Mark Godbeer, then finally put in to replace Lewis against Werdum. It was no issue for the Brazilian heavyweight, who dispatched Harris with an armbar in just over a minute. Now, he uses that quick finish to turn around super quick to step in for… Mark Hunt at UFC Sydney? What is happening? Mark Hunt out, @FabricioWerdum steps in to take on @MarcinTybura at #UFCSydney Main Event (November 19th) #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/Oki0EqV2IJ

Justin Golightly - September 29, 2017

Yesterday during a peaceful media lunch, Tony Ferguson and Fabricio Werdum nearly came to blows. Despite the ridiculous difference — nearly comical — difference in size, Ferguson never backed down from the big man. He even threatened him with an ‘ankle pick,’ which was a great line and a contrast to the foreign obscenities and slurs Werdum threw at Ferguson. None other than Mark Hunt caught wind of the altercation and had to weigh-in on the incident. Given Hunt and Werdum’s past, this comes of no surprise. 

Tom Taylor - September 14, 2017

Fighting is a perilous game. Time and time again, we’ve seen premier combat sports athletes decline into physical and mental disrepair, oftentimes until they exist as little more than stuttering stacks of bones, entirely unrecognizable from the seemingly unstoppable behemoths they once were. In a poignant piece written on Wednesday for Players Voice, UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt explored the decline so many fighters endure, explaining that he’s at peace with that decline – that he’s even ok with dying in a fight – so long as it all occurs on a level playing field. That means no performance enhancing drugs.

Tom Taylor - August 23, 2017

Last night, we learned that Jon Jones had failed a drug test in the buildup to his UFC 214 fight with Daniel Cormier – a fight he won by third-round knockout, which earned him the UFC light heavyweight title. Unsurprisingly, this disappointing news generated grave reactions from many of the game’s top fighters, and from UFC President Dana White. One of the most interesting reactions to this news came from heavyweight legend Mark Hunt, who is one of the most outspoken advocates against steroid use in MMA. Shortly after this unfortunate news broke, Hunt took to Instagram to trash Jones, referencing Jones’ Philippians 4:13 tattoo.

Justin Golightly - August 19, 2017

Mark Hunt only has three modes: chill, no chill, and absolute destruction. Luckily, his last opponent Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis, didn’t pop for any drugs. Before that, his last four opponents in a row have been fighters who violated the UFC’s anti-doping policies, so it’s easy to understand why Hunt has been more no chill than usual. However, this isn’t about doping. Cowardice isn’t against USADA regulations, but Hunt claims that Fabricio Werdum has tested positive for it. The Super Samoan has been wanting that rematch with Werdum, but supposedly he avoided him at all turns. The kicker? Werdum is scheduled to fight Lewis, the hype train that Hunt just derailed.

Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017

Over the weekend, Lowking.pl reported that the UFC’s November 19 return to Sydney, Australia, would be headlined by a heavyweight showdown between Mark Hunt and Marcin Tybura. This report was later confirmed by MMAJunkie.com, and now, it’s been officially announced by the UFC. #UFCSydney: @markhunt1974 vs @MarcinTybura Sunday, Nov 19 | @qudosbankarena 🎫 👉 https://t.co/T3qpToug8G pic.twitter.com/iaTU5w4x2A

Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017

On November 19, the UFC will return to sun-soaked Sydney, Australia with UFC Fight Night 121. In the main event, former UFC interim heavyweight title challenger and bona fide MMA legend Mark Hunt will return to action. His opponent will be dangerous Polish prospect Marcin Tybura. This bout was first reported by Lowking.pl, and later confirmed by MMAJunkie.com.

Tom Taylor - August 1, 2017

On July 8, on the undercard of the anticipated UFC 213, Russian-Ukrainian heavyweight Alexey Oleynik built on the momentum of his dazzling, Ezekiel choke defeat of Viktor Pesta with a slick rear-naked choke defeat of former contender Travis Browne. With this impressive win, Oleynik set himself up for more big opportunities inside the heavyweight top-10, and from the sounds of it, he’s already got an opponent in mind. His desired opponent is legendary knockout artist Mark Hunt. Oleynik made his callout of Hunt on Instagram, explaining that he’d been waiting for Hunt to agree to fight him for two weeks.

Tom Taylor - June 12, 2017

Over the weekend, the UFC touched down in Auckland, New Zealand with an exciting, 11-fight card (one fight was cancelled at the last minute). This card was headlined by a heavyweight showdown between Kiwi MMA legend Mark Hunt, and streaking heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis. Hunt won this fight with a fourth-round TKO.