Tag: Mark Hunt

Video: Watch Mark Hunt trash talk former rugby star Paul Gallen ahead of boxing clash

Mark Hunt showed the fire still burns as he engaged in pre-fight trash talk with former rugby star Paul Gallen ahead of their boxing bout.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen [autotag]Mark Hunt[/autotag] in action, but if his pre-fight press conference for his upcoming boxing match is anything to go by, the fire still burns strong inside “The Super Samoan.”

Former UFC and Pride FC heavyweight contender Hunt is set to take on former rugby league star [autotag]Paul Gallen[/autotag] in a six-round heavyweight bout in the co-main event of a fight card in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday and, during the pre-fight press conference it didn’t take long for the temperature to rise ahead of their eagerly anticipated clash.

Hunt had already said that he’s looking forward to making his return to competition after three years away, but after hearing Gallen’s confidence in his initial remarks, Hunt responded with a strong warning for the rugby star.

“This ain’t footy. This is fighting. You should be thanking me, boy. I was talking to other people, overseas. Keep talking (expletive). … You’re going to sleep. I’ll put your ass to sleep. … I’m gonna fix you, man. I’m gonna fix you good!”

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The pair continued to verbally spar back and forth, with 39-year-old former Australian international rugby star and undefeated professional boxer Gallen accusing Hunt of making excuses ahead of the fight.

But Hunt warned Gallen that he was stepping up to the top level by facing him, and vowed to add him to his list of victims on Wednesday night.

“My belief is we’re only here because of him. He wants to get to the next level. That’s what he wants to be doing here, so this is the next level,” he said. “I haven’t boxed in 20 years and I’m still gonna clean him up. That’s how I feel.”

Hunt then mocked Gallen for a prior injury he sustained in the lead-up to the bout, saying, “I ain’t the one calling ‘injury,'” he said. “You called me up and said, ‘Hey Mark, I can’t fight.’ Why? ‘Because I’m weak-ass.’ … ‘I can’t fight you. I pulled my bicep from jerking off!’ That’s the bottom line, he’s a jerk-off. Which hand did you use? Use the left hand, man, not the right hand!”

He then issued a final warning for his opponent, as he reminded 9-0 boxer Gallen of his own extensive experience in the fight game, and the veteran of 74 professional bouts across kickboxing, MMA and boxing said that he was in no mood to let anyone tell him when to retire.

“I’ll retire when I’m ready to do so,” he declared. “When I’m ready, and when I’m happy, is when I’ll retire. Not when no company tells me to retire, or no fighter, or a part-time fighter like you. … You’re not even on my level. I’ve been sitting at the top table of combat sports for two decades.”

Gallen’s response was instant. “And you’ll be finished on Wednesday.”

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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Mark Hunt in the midst of another UFC lawsuit, sounds off on Dana White

Mark Hunt says his legal battles with the UFC aren’t over – and neither is his MMA career.

[autotag]Mark Hunt[/autotag] says his legal battles with the UFC aren’t over.

According to ex-UFC heavyweight Hunt (13-14-1), he’s in the midst of organizing another lawsuit against his former employer. A backer of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, a set of federal regulations that apply to the sport of boxing, Hunt is working to see similar legislation be implemented in MMA.

“Things will change when you bring the Ali Act in,” Hunt recently told Duello Channel. “It totally changes things around. I’m with these guys that are part of this lawsuit class action. Once this comes, it’ll change the whole landscape of fighting. The fighters get paid more money, which is better for the employees. They’ll start living properly.

“Why do you make it to the top of the world in fighting? So you get paid well. Right now, these guys aren’t getting paid well. They’re getting ripped off.”

Hunt sounded off on a number of different gripes he has with the UFC but did not specify the specific grounds on which he’s basing his lawsuit. He also took aim at UFC president Dana White, hurling insults and expletives all the while.

“I know how they do it,” Hunt said. “That’s why we’re in a couple of these lawsuits. It’s a sad thing to see these fighters coming through – young fighters thinking they can get some good money. They just fall to the side like the rest of them. When you get the champions asking for more money, you know there’s something wrong. When a guy like Stipe (Miocic) or the other champions ask for more money – he’s the champion of this company. Why is he asking for more money? Something to think about.

“These bosses and guys that own the company, these (expletive) like Dana will say all this … ‘We’ve got to do this and that. All these things will work out.’ At the end of the day, he’s just a grub. He’s a thieving little grub. That’s all he is.”

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Positive change isn’t coming, Hunt said, due to one main thing: fear. According to Hunt, most fighters aren’t willing to speak out because they’re afraid of the UFC.

“Most of the fighters are just scared to talk about it,” Hunt said. “A lot of the fighters are scared to speak up about it. You’re actually fighters not just in the octagon, but everywhere. To get guys like this to come around to kiss-ass these (expletive) guys like Dana White, it’s a joke. He’s just a joke. He’s an idiot.”

Hunt explained that his legal pursuits have been his main focus – but he’s not done fighting. Not having competed since December 2018, Hunt is a free agent. He plans on boxing in the near future, then returning to MMA. Hunt estimates he has six more fights left in the tank.

“I’m talking about a boxing fight with some people now, but I want to fight six more times,” Hunt said. “I want to finish my career, but I have to pay for this lawsuit against the UFC. I’ve got to finish this. I want to fight six more times and be happy with it.

“I’ve been free for two-and-a-half years. I’ve just been doing business and stuff and organizing this lawsuit against this company.”

Hunt’s past legal battles with the UFC are well-documented. In January 2017, Hunt filed a lawsuit against the promotion, claiming the company mishandled his July 2016 fight against Brock Lesnar. Hunt claimed the UFC and Lesnar colluded to sidestep USADA testing prior to their fight. Lesnar won the bout on fight night, but the decision was overturned when Lesnar failed a drug test.

In 2019, the state of Nevada ruled in the UFC’s favor on all counts.

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Judge rules on final piece of Mark Hunt’s lawsuit against the UFC, and Hunt isn’t happy

Mark Hunt’s last hope for a judgment against the UFC is over.

[autotag]Mark Hunt[/autotag]’s last hope for a judgment against the UFC is over.

A judge at a U.S. district court in Nevada ruled in the last bit of Hunt’s lawsuit against the UFC. The judge ruled in favor of the UFC in what was left of his case. In February, a judge dismissed with prejudice all but one of Hunt’s claims.

All that was left after February’s rulings was a single charge of breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. And now that one has been ruled on, as well.

In response, Hunt posted his frustration on Instagram and continued to blast the UFC – and he was none too polite about it.

“I tried to make things even on the battlefield of Mma but again the cheating company @danawhite @ufc with all its billions they ripped everyone off win again someone will die against a steroid using cheater and your shit rip off company will be at fault @ufc I hope all u fuckers burn filthy dog cunnnniesss 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 u can go and get fuuuuuaaaaaarrrkkkkeddd Uwonthisbattlebutthewarwillcontinue #aliactmotherfuckers I am not the first to sue this rip off company and sure as hell wont be the last to sue the @ufc u can’t keep ripping fighters off and run monopoly on the market someone’s going to put u motherfuckers down @danawhite @ufc”

Nearly a year ago, Hunt left the UFC after fighting out his contract under plenty of bad blood with the UFC brass. In January 2017, the heavyweight filed suit against the promotion, UFC president Dana White, and former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, alleging conspiracy and fraud surrounding his UFC 200 loss to Lesnar. Lesnar’s decision win subsequently was overturned when a positive drug test, collected 11 days prior to the fight, came back positive for the estrogen blocker clomiphene.

Hunt wanted the UFC to turn over all of Lesnar’s $2.5 million purse for the bout and escalated to legal action when the promotion refused. He cited anti-corruption statutes – with treble damages at stake if proven – and sought “millions” from the defendants for conspiring to avoid anti-doping rules that might have prevented Lesnar from fighting.

At the center of Hunt’s claims was his UFC 200 fight with Lesnar, whom he believes worked with the promotion to conceal a return for the purpose of avoiding a mandatory four months of drug testing required by USADA. As a result, he lost out on money and other opportunities.

Lesnar served concurrent one-year suspensions from USADA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which regulated UFC 200. The ex-UFC and current WWE champ briefly tried to exonerate himself, claiming the positive test could be linked to a tainted foot cream. He subsequently retired from competition.

Hunt finished his UFC run on a 1-4 slide, including three straight setbacks to Curtis Blaydes, Aleksei Oleinik and Justin Willis. The Willis loss dropped Hunt’s overall record to 13-14-1, putting him under .500 for his MMA career. The 45-year-old New Zealand native has not fought since then.

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