In the modern mixed martial arts landscape, many fans put a lot of stock in the records that fighters bring with them into the cage. With so many fighters currently undefeated or touting impressive win streaks, those that have meager win-loss records are often ignored or overlooked. Then there is Mark Hunt. This heavyweight with a 9-8 record has become a fan favorite amongst the many fans who enjoy the sport, and that’s not a bad thing at all.
At 39 years old, Mark Hunt consistently provides a counterexample to the notion that mixed martial arts is “a young man’s game.” When he was brought into the UFC fold in 2010, most observers expected that Hunt would wash out of the promotion. In fact, Zuffa offered to buy him out of the Pride FC contract that he he was signed to which entitled him to those UFC fights. Instead, Hunt wanted the opportunity to fight out his deal, and he received the opportunity at UFC 119. In less than two minutes, Sean McCorkle submitted Hunt to continue the skid that looked to be the end of Hunt’s MMA career. However, what would occur next would build “The Super Samoan” into an instant cult favorite.
From 2011 to 2013 Hunt would put together four straight wins — three of which came via devastating knockouts — to propel himself into heavyweight contention. What made the rise so interesting is that Hunt always looked very nonchalant about his victories, and unlike some other competitors, he looked “mortal” in a sense. Instead of talking to Joe Rogan, he would be hunched over, gasping for air, barely audible. The bout against Ben Rothwell brought as many laughs as cheers during their 15 minutes of action. When Alistair Overeem was pulled out of a title fight against Junior dos Santos, Hunt’s fans pushed hard for him to be inserted into the title bout, but it wouldn’t come to fruition.
While dos Santos did eventually bring the hype train to a halt at UFC 160, Hunt is still an interesting competitor in the heavyweight division. Looking at the competitors who are listed among the top ten to fifteen within the weight class, Hunt does pose an intriguing matchup for many of them. He has the knockout power to end a fight with one blow, but he has also shown that he can grapple as well when he comes into a bout prepared. At UFC Fight Night 33, he’s due to face Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in a bout that will either establish Hunt as a potential contender in 2014 or keep both competitors at heavyweight gatekeeper status.
Comparing these two athletes using Fight Metric, there are some interesting figures to be broken down. Silva’s best bet is to use his eight-inch reach advantage to keep Hunt on the outside and away from his power. He could also attempt to use his size advantage to score takedowns, but Hunt has solid takedown defense at 69 percent. This shakes up to be a striking contest, which plays more to Hunt’s strengths. It will be captivating to see how “Bigfoot” deals with Hunt’s power while attempting to implement his own game plan. Silva’s been using his own knockout abilities of late, as his last four wins dating back to 2010 have come by some form of knockout stoppage.
This heavyweight bout should not be expected to go the full allotted time. In fact, most fans and analysts are expecting a second-round stoppage by way of Hunt’s power. Silva’s chin has failed him in his last three defeats, and facing a striker with Hunt’s proven power may not yield a great outcome for him at this point in his career.
Regardless of how the fight plays out, the main event of UFC Fight Night 33 is shaping up to be an interesting attraction on a card that features solid names from the UFC’s midcard roster. This rare Friday UFC event should be a solid showing, capped by heavyweight action that will appease the need for highlight reel knockouts.
• Mark Hunt vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva
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UFC Fight Night 33: Hunt vs. Bigfoot is due to take place on December 7, 2013 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. (Due to the time differences, the event will air on December 6 in the United States.)
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