Hunt’s frustrations boiling over
UNDER the bright lights of Las Vegas, in the world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotion and against a top-ranked opponent, this should be an exciting time for any fighter.
But Mark Hunt cannot hide his frustration.
The 42-year-old’s crusade against doping is well known by now. For the last eight months he has been campaigning for the UFC to impose harsher penalties on drug cheats, culminating in a civil lawsuit against the company, its president Dana White and Brock Lesnar, who failed multiple drug tests ahead of their bout last July.
Lesnar was the third of Hunt’s opponents in the UFC to test positive for a banned substance. Now up against Alistair Overeem at UFC 209 today, another fighter with a chequered doping history, Hunt doesn’t feel like he has much support.
‘‘To be honest I didn’t know if I’d be employed with the UFC or not,’’ Hunt told Fairfax. ‘‘I didn’t want to be in this position but I’ve done nothing wrong here. I’m not the one that broke the rules, I’m not the one that stuck needles in my a....
‘‘All I did was do my job the right way and then I feel like I’m the one getting punished. I’ve missed out on two fights already, now I’m here in this situation. All I’ve asked for is an even playing field, not to keep fighting these steroid heads.’’
The ‘Super Samoan’ turned down bouts against Josh Barnett, who was later flagged for a doping violation, and Junior dos Santos as he fought unsuccessfully for a clause in contracts to award a fighter the full purse should an opponent fail a drug test.
Locked into a six-fight contract he signed last April, Hunt felt he had no choice but to return to the octagon. The irony, though, is that he has been pitted against Overeem, who in 2012 had his licence suspended for nine months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for elevated testosterone levels.
The UFC, it should be said, has made strides against doping, most significantly enlisting the United States Anti-Doping Agency to oversee its drug-testing programme.
And on paper the match-up makes perfect sense. Overeem (41-15) is coming off a loss to heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic while Hunt (12-11-1), ranked eighth in the division, is looking to break into the top five. It’s also a rematch of their 2008 bout, which Hunt lost via a firstround submission. GETTY IMAGES
But the Kiwi is adamant Overeem has no place in the sport.
‘‘This guy’s ranked number three, he’s a cheater, he shouldn’t even be in the top level,’’ Hunt added.
As for the fight itself, Hunt is confident of setting the record straight for their previous encounter, which came during the lowest point of his career as he suffered a run of six straight defeats.
‘‘He got lucky that time,’’ Hunt said. ‘‘I lost to a couple of middleweights, I got knocked out for the first time.
‘‘This weekend I’m going to crack this guy’s face.’’