Mark Hunt Wants Junior dos Santos At UFC 200

The UFC heavyweight division got a new ruler at UFC 198 in Brazil, as Stipe Miocic squashed Fabricio Werdum in Brazil. A common opponent that both men have is Mark Hunt, the fan pleasing knockout artist who originally made his name in K-1 and Pride FC. Since his grizzly TKO loss to Miocic at UFC Fight Night 65, ‘The Super Samoan’ has bounced back with a couple of dominant wins.

After taking out Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva in a brutal first round massacre at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia, Hunt returned down under to blast former heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC Fight Night 85 in Brisbane.

Now looking back in resurgent form once again, Hunt wants to avenge one particular loss that happened at UFC 160. Former champion Junior dos Santos knocked ‘The Super Samoan’ out with a spectacular spinning head kick, ending his four fight win streak and now Hunt wants a second crack.

Speaking with The Herald Sun, Mark Hunt says he’s asked UFC president Dana White for the rematch with ‘Cigano,’ and now simply awaits the answer.

“I’m still waiting on word but it should be not far away at all,” Hunt said of a possible appearance at UFC 200.“I’ve asked Dana if I can fight JDS

“I can’t tell you much more. I was talking to Dana the other day but that’s all I know.

“Maybe is all I can say. I’ve just started training in the Gold Coast and I’m just tossing up whether to set up camp in Vegas,” Hunt said.

“Not knowing whether there’s a fight or not … it’s just one of those things where I have to keep training.

“I’ll probably set up camp in America, have two weeks sparring and Bob’s your uncle. I’m just the fill in guy at the moment.”

“I’ve asked for all of them…

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I’ve lost to all of those guys (above me) except for Ben Rothwell and of course I’m salty about the loss to Stipe because he gave over a hiding over five rounds.

“It doesn’t sit well with me and a rematch is never the same for me … with anyone.

“I’ve asked the boss and I’m just waiting on a reply … that’s all.”

After seeing his former opponents Fabricio Werdum and Stipe Miocic duke it out at UFC 198, Mark Hunt says he was happy to see Stipe take the win:

“To be honest, I’m happy for Stipe and it wasn’t my turn,” Hunt said.

“I made the wrong decisions, I made the wrong calls and I didn’t cut weight right. It was nothing to do with Stipe, he did the right things and that’s why he’s the champion.

“That’s my fault. I made the mistakes and it’s up to me to make the right choices.

“I’ve gone back to the drawing back and I’m coming to get that title. I do think I can beat him, of course, and I feel I can beat anybody.

“It’s great to see the title change hands all the time, there’s never one dominant fighter, and it’s going to be my time soon.”

At 42 years old and with six fights left on his contract, a title win in the UFC at this point would be a true Cinderella story. If anyone is capable of that sort of rise to the top, Mark Hunt has to be up there with his one punch KO abilities. He acknowledges that it took a while for him to find his feet in the sport, but also believes he’s still improving.

“I’m getting a lot better,” he said.

“When I first started I didn’t have all that experience, but now it’s the other way around.

“Having all this experience makes training a lot easier, and knowing that I can beat any of these guys at the top end is a plus for me.”