Frustrated Hunt feels like UFC bosses forcing him out
As Mark Hunt begins his farewell tour from the UFC, he cannot help but feel like he is being pushed out.
The veteran Kiwi heavyweight takes on rising American Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event of UFC 221 in Perth today, one of three fights remaining on his contract with the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion.
As the flagbearer for combat sports in Australasia for the best part of two decades, it should be a time to celebrate his decorated career. But the former K-1 champion is not feeling the love from his employers, and hasn’t for the last 18 months.
Hunt has been at odds with the UFC over their doping policy since former opponent Brock Lesnar was found to have used performanceenhancing drugs ahead of their bout in July 2016, with the 43-yearold launching legal action in response.
The relationship soured further last September when Hunt was sensationally pulled from headlining a card in Sydney due to ‘‘medical concerns’’, stemming from a first-person piece with an Australian website.
Hunt stressed at the time that he had been cleared to fight by specialists but was still ordered to undergo testing by the UFC’s medical experts in Las Vegas before he was ultimately cleared.
And ‘Super Samoan’ admits the constant battles outside of the octagon have taken a toll.
‘‘I get the light shined on me and get called a whinger but I’ve done nothing wrong here. It’s all these other guys that are taking short cuts to get to the top and I feel ostracised in my place of work,’’ he told Stuff.
Hunt (13-11-1, 1NC) still has a passion for MMA and reiterated his desire to fight three more times once his contract comes to an end.
Yet that does not mean he has given up on his dream of becoming UFC heavyweight champion.
Time is clearly not on his side but, ranked fifth in the division, victory in his next two fights could open the door for a fairytale finish in his UFC swansong.
But he is keen to cut out the distractions in what is likely to be his last year in the UFC.
‘‘It makes you feel down about competing at the top end because all you’re supposed to do is fight to try and win the world title. But when you’re fighting on two fronts it doesn’t work,’’ he said.
Blaydes, 26, is one of the heavyweight division’s young stars, having worked his way up to ninth in the rankings with a 8-1 record.
UFC 221 was originally headlined by middleweight champion Robert Whittaker’s maiden title defence against Luke Rockhold before the New Zealand-born Whittaker withdrew due to injury.
Rockhold will instead face Yoel Romero in the main event.
The card has a strong Kiwi flavour with Hunt joined by Israel Adesanya, who is making his longawaited UFC debut against Rob Wilkinson, while Hamilton’s Luke Jumeau takes on Daichi Abe.