Tag: Mark Hunt

The 5 greatest heavyweight wars in MMA history, ranked

There’s nothing quite like a great heavyweight fight, even better when it’s an all-out war such as these classics from the UFC and more.

The heavyweight division, as defined by the unified rules of MMA via the Association of Boxing Commissions, consists of fighters who are between 206 and 265 pounds.

Prior to the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board conceiving a set of rules and weight classes in 2000 that became the base of operations we are now familiar with today, MMA was essentially the Wild West when it started out in the 1990s.

From open-weight matches to one-night tournaments, heavyweight fighters and classifications were a common occurrence in MMA’s early days. However, since the early 2000s, the heavyweight classification has largely stayed consistent across major promotions (despite some disarray amongst the lower weight classes).

With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to revisit some of the classics that this iconic division has given us throughout the years by listing my top five heavyweight wars of all time.

As usual, these lists reflect my personal tastes and biases and are not meant to serve as some ultimate authority. That said, I feel very strongly about not only my list but also my honorable mentions at the end – which are more than strong enough to serve as their own top five.

So, without further ado …

Judge dismisses Mark Hunt’s claims against UFC, Dana White and Brock Lesnar in lawsuit; case closed

It appears Mark Hunt has been dealt one final blow in his legal battle with the UFC, Dana White and Brock Lesnar.

It appears [autotag]Mark Hunt[/autotag] has been dealt one final blow in his legal battle with the UFC, [autotag]Dana White [/autotag]and [autotag]Brock Lesnar[/autotag].

In a 27-page written opinion released Tuesday and obtained by MMA Junkie, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey concluded that Hunt failed to prove the UFC and White (then promotion president and now CEO) knowingly booked him in a fight with Lesnar while aware of Lesnar’s performance-enhancing drug use ahead of UFC 200 on July 9, 2016.

As a result, Dorsey dismissed what was left of Hunt’s lawsuit, which was first filed in 2017, dismissed in 2019, but then revived in 2021 by an appeals court. Hunt was trying to prove fraud, battery, aiding-and-abetting battery, and civil conspiracy claims that were revived two years ago. But Dorsey granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment on all claims, meaning the case is dismissed.

“Despite extensive briefing and oral argument, Hunt has been unable to provide the necessary evidentiary support for his theories,” Dorsey wrote. “So I grant summary judgment in favor of the defendants and again close this case.”

Sports law reporter Jason Morrin of Conduct Detrimental first broke the news on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This is the second time that Dorsey has ruled against Hunt. In 2019, Dorsey dismissed with prejudice all but one of Hunt’s original claims against the UFC, White and Lesnar. Included in the claims struck down then were federal and state RICO violations; common-law fraud and aiding and abetting; breach of contract; unjust enrichment; battery and aiding and abetting; and civil conspiracy.

At UFC 200, Lesnar, a former UFC heavyweight champion, temporarily left WWE to return from a five-and-a-half-year octagon absence to fight Hunt. Lesnar was given an exemption from a four-month U.S. Anti-Doping Agency drug-testing window before he stepped into the cage. Lesnar defeated Hunt by unanimous decision but was later suspended one year by USADA and the Nevada Athletic Commission after he tested positive for multiple banned substances. The result against Hunt was overturned to a no contest.

Hunt competed five more times for the promotion after UFC 200, going 1-4 until completing his contract in December 2018.

Jon Anik thinks Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva should enter UFC Hall of Fame: ‘One of the greatest heavyweight fights’

Jon Anik would like to see a memorable heavyweight war enter the UFC Hall of Fame.

Jon Anik would like to see a memorable heavyweight war enter the UFC Hall of Fame.

On Friday, the UFC will induct the eighth bout into the Fight Wing of its Hall of Fame: Robbie Lawler’s title-fight barnburner with Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 in 2015.

When asked which fight he’d induct next, Anik picked [autotag]Mark Hunt[/autotag]’s majority draw vs. [autotag]Antonio Silva[/autotag], which headlined a UFC Fight Night in Brisbane, Australia in 2013. Hunt won the rematch by first-round TKO at UFC 193 less than two years later.

“The lead horse: Mark Hunt, Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva on Larry Bird’s birthday, Dec. 7, 2013,” Anik told MMA Junkie Radio. “Dateline: Brisbane, Australia. One of the greatest heavyweight fights in UFC history. It happened in the A.M. in Australia, and I remember me and Kenny Florian saying to each other as we were walking out of that arena, getting soaked by the sun in Brisbane, and we were thinking, ‘Man, I hope people in the U.S. are watching this.'”

Anik isn’t sure if the UFC will agree with him due to Hunt’s differences with the promotion. Hunt filed a lawsuit against the UFC in January 2017, claiming the company knew Brock Lesnar was taking performance-enhancing drugs prior to their July 2016 fight. Lesnar won, but the decision was overturned when he failed a drug test. In 2019, the state of Nevada ruled in the UFC’s favor on all counts.

“Sometimes you don’t know promotionally where certain athletes stand, (but) obviously Mark Hunt and the UFC have their issues,” Anik said. “But to me, if I could put any fight I have done into the Hall of Fame, it would be that one or Matt Brown vs. Erik Silva main event, Cincinnati, 2014.”

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Farewell, fighters: A list of former UFC champs and more MMA notables who retired in 2022

The MMA world said goodbye to more than 35 notable fighters in 2022, from former UFC champions to future UFC Hall of Famers and more.

MMA is a constantly evolving sport with a revolving door of athletes entering and exiting. Currently fighters from the era that helped make the sport so popular are beginning to trickle away from competition and hang up their gloves to move on to the next chapters in their lives.

If there’s one thing that’s well known about combat sports retirements, though, it’s that they often don’t last long. The urge to compete and, perhaps more importantly, get a payday will continue to drive fighters back, even well beyond their expiration dates.

In 2022, there was an uptick in notable fighters announcing they are retired, and we have a list of those who opted to walk away last year.

10 best non-MMA wins for UFC veterans in 2022

Check out which UFC veterans impressed outside of MMA competition in 2022.

Throughout the year, we have seen a number of UFC veterans compete in other combat sports across the world.

Since MMA encompasses a variety of martial arts, it is always interesting when MMA fighters who have competed on the largest stage try their hand at a specific combat sports discipline.

From bareknuckle boxing, traditional gloved boxing, to mixed rules contests, these UFC vets turned in impressive performances outside of MMA competition.

Scroll below to see who got our attention away from the cage in 2022 with impressive wins.

Video: UFC veteran Mark Hunt knocks out Sonny Bill Williams in final career bout

At 48, Mark Hunt is still stopping opponents.

[autotag]Mark Hunt[/autotag] finished his combat sports career in typical “Super Samoan” fashion.

Hunt competed in what was to be his final combat sports competition on Saturday, a professional boxing bout against Sonny Bill Williams. The event took place at Aware Super Theater in Sydney.

It was the first fight for Hunt in nearly two years, but the hard-hitting 48-year-old proved he still has the power to finish his opponents by knocking out the previously undefeated in the fourth round.

Watch video of the finish below (via Twitter):

 

“I’m smiling not because of the win, but I’m smiling because this is the last time I walked into a ring of combat of any sorts,” Hunt told The Mirror after the fight. “My first thought after was, ‘Sh*t, I want to do that again!’, but no (I won’t be back in the ring again).”

Hunt competed in various combat sports throughout his career which began in kickboxing in 1998. Dabbling in pro boxing, he competed in MMA in Pride, Dream, and the UFC, where he would have his final appearance in the cage in December 2018.

Williams, 37, a New Zealand rugby star, entered the contest as a 9-0 pro boxer.

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‘They will put Francis at the back of the bus’: Mark Hunt supports Ngannou’s UFC contract dispute

With his own ongoing issues with the UFC, former heavyweight contender Mark Hunt supports the current champion’s contract issues.

[autotag]Mark Hunt[/autotag] is no stranger to speaking up for himself, especially when it comes to dealing with the promotion he once fought for, the UFC.

Following [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag]’s successful title defense at UFC 270, Hunt hopes that the reigning heavyweight champion will continue to speak up for himself as well.

Ngannou completed the final fight on his contract by stepping inside the octagon and defeating Ciryl Gane by unanimous decision. Since he retained his title, the contract was extended, but the UFC and its champion still have much to work through.

Ngannou earned disclosed pay of $600,000 for his fight against Gane, a number that does not include pay-per-view points and other potential revenue. While the champ has expressed his gripes with his contract extend beyond the paychecks, that has not stopped others from speaking up about the numbers.

Hunt, who made 18 walks to the UFC cage and has ongoing legal troubles with the promotion of his own, had a few words to share about Ngannou’s situation. Even though he believes Ngannou will face repercussions for it, Hunt believes it is a fight worth fighting.

“And now they will put Francis at the back of the bus and turn on him like they do every other fighter that speaks up,” Hunt commented on an Instagram clip from Ngannou’s post-fight press conference. “I hope he doesn’t sign again until they pay him his dues. He was getting ripped off royally like every other fighter in that company.”

 

“World Heavyweight champion getting 5-600k USD,” Hunt continued. “My last fight with this company 5-6 years ago, I got 950k USD and I never had the belt five years ago. And the reason I was getting that was because I always spoke up and told them they need to pay. They are not your friends and you don’t need brown-nosing management to rip you off. Get what you’re worth, @francisngannou. Don’t live on your knees. You’re a fighter in and out of the octagon. When you’re the heavyweight champion of the world, the word “NO” should not be in your vocab anymore. I guess it must be just the UFC heavyweight title (that is) worthless and unworthy of your time and blood.”

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Former rugby star Paul Gallen outboxes Mark Hunt in Sydney, then calls out Robert Whittaker

Mark Hunt showed he still possesses his famed power, but couldn’t find a finish against former rugby player Paul Gallen.

Former UFC and PRIDE heavyweight contender [autotag]Mark Hunt[/autotag]’s return to competitive action after a three-year hiatus ended in defeat to former rugby star [autotag]Paul Gallen[/autotag], who promptly set his sights on another Antipodean MMA hero, [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag].

Gallen showed a solid chin and remarkable powers of recovery, as he took some thunderous shots from “The Super Samoan” over the course of their boxing match in Sydney. But Gallen’s work rate overall meant that the former Australia international rugby league player took home the win after securing a unanimous decision after six hard-hitting rounds, with the three judges scoring it 58-56, 58-56, 59-55 to extend his professional boxing record to 10-0-1.

Seven years his opponent’s junior, Gallen outworked 46-year-old Hunt over the course of their six-round co-main event, but it was Hunt who came closest to ending the fight inside the distance. The notoriously heavy-handed Kiwi found a home for his powerful punches throughout the fight. But, while he managed to rock Gallen on numerous occasions, he wasn’t quite able to finish the job as the Australian fought through adversity to run out the victor on the scorecards.

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After the fight, Gallen set his sights on former UFC middleweight champion Whittaker. Speaking in the ring during his post-fight interview, Gallen said, “What’s next? Robert Whittaker, I watched you about a year ago, you had an interview, and you were asked if you’d fight me. You said, ‘Yeah I’d fight him, but he wouldn’t fight me,’ and you gave a condescending laugh.

“I’m here, mate, and I’m happy to meet you in here (the ring), but stop pricing yourself out of it. I’ve got nothing but respect for Rob – I know him reasonably well – but I’m just going to beat him. I’m going to beat him like I beat Mark. I’m going to train hard and prepare for it. I’m going to have a good game plan. I’m just going to get in there and smash him.”

Hunt’s defeat means that he remains without a win as a professional boxer, with the fight seeing his record under the Queensberry Rules drop to 0-2-1.

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Video: Mark Hunt takes swing at Paul Gallen ahead of boxing bout in Australia

UFC and PRIDE veteran Mark Hunt certainly doesn’t seem to be a fan of his opponent.

SYDNEY – UFC and PRIDE veteran [autotag]Mark Hunt[/autotag] certainly doesn’t seem to be a fan of upcoming opponent Paul Gallen.

After verbally clashing with Gallen at a pre-fight news conference earlier this week, Hunt took things a step further at their official weigh-in Monday (Tuesday in Australia) by shoving and then taking a swing at his opponent.

Hunt and Gallen meet in a six-round boxing contest on Wednesday at Sydney’s Bankwest Stadium. Tim Tszyu takes on Bowyn Morgan in the main event, which streams live on pay-per-view via Foxtel and Kayo.

You can watch the Hunt-Gallen weigh-in and faceoff in the video above.

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