Hunt raises stakes against drugs cheats
Mark Hunt is prepared to take his fight with the UFC over doping to the courtroom.
The Kiwi heavyweight has pulled no punches towards the world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotion since it was revealed Brock Lesnar tested positive for banned substances in his victory over Hunt at UFC 200 in July.
But if president Dana White and the rest of the UFC hierarchy thought he would blow out of steam, they were wrong.
That was the third time Hunt had been in the octagon with an opponent who had failed a drugs test and he has had enough.
The ‘Super Samoan’ has taken legal advice from lawyers in the United States to begin a case against the UFC in an attempt to win back the money given to Lesnar for his victory.
But it’s not just about the cash.
Hunt is demanding change and wants provisions made in contracts to deter fighters from cheating.
‘‘I don’t think the penalties are harsh enough,’’ Hunt told MMAmania.com. ‘‘I don’t think it is a fair environment. I’ve probably fought more juicers than anybody. The difference is now is that I realised I can actually lose an eye or something and not be able to compete again. I know fighting is kind of hard and all, but when these losers are taking steroids it makes it even worse.’’
Any potential legal action is largely dependent on the outcome of Lesnar’s hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on November 10. Hunt’s legal team will be monitoring events closely.
‘‘Theoretically, the UFC upon the finding of a violation could take all of the money back from Brock,’’ said litigation expert Christina Denning, of San Diego-based law firm Higgs, Fletcher and Mack.
‘‘Not only the $2.5 million purse, but anything he earned from payper-view . . . Or better yet – and what we’d like to see happen – is the person that had to get in the ring with him gets allocated that money.
‘‘If such a policy was implemented it would definitely deter some UFC fighters.’’
Hunt’s frustration with the way the UFC deals with doping has been building for some time.
In 2013, he fought out a draw Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva in what many believe to be one of the most brutal bouts in UFC history, only for the Brazilian to be found with elevated levels of testosterone.
This year, former heavyweight champion Frank Mir tested positive for an anabolic steroid after he was sensationally knocked out by Hunt in March.
To show how serious he is, Hunt revealed that he has turned down two fights since the Lesnar affair, against Josh Barnett and what would have been a high-profile showdown with fourth-ranked heavyweight Junior dos Santos.
Hunt labelled Barnett ‘‘another known cheater’’, while the dos Santos fight was declined after the UFC rejected his conditions which would entitle Hunt to all his opponent’s winnings if they are found to be using banned substances.