Fifth round TKO defeat for Hunt

Mark Hunt’s chances of a world heavyweight title fight at mixed martial arts cage fighting were beaten to a bloody pulp in Adelaide on Sunday.

New Zealand-born but Australia-based Hunt, 40, suffered a fifth round technical knockout after his opponent Stipe Miocic dished out a beating over much of the five-round contest.

Miocic floored Hunt in every round and relentlessly attacked him around the head forcing Hunt’s right eye to close and his face to bleed.

The ringside doctor inspected Hunt before the final round and declared him fit to continue despite Hunt struggling to see.

After taking another pounding from the American, referee John Sharp called the fight off with just over two minutes remaining.

While Hunt was courageous in defeat there was no doubting Miocic’s superiority as he rained blows upon Hunt’s face for much of the bout.

Only in the first round did Hunt achieve some sort of parity. Miocic used his superior height, speed and athleticism to dominate.

It appears that fourth-ranked Miocic, who enhances his record to 13 wins from 15 fights, is now in line for a world fight at Melbourne in November.

There he’s likely to fight the winner of the clash between reigning UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez, who is returning from injury, and Fabricio Werdum at UFC 188, in Mexico City, in June.

Hunt, known as the super Samoan, has three fights remaining on his contract with the UFC and recently said he would not continue with the company beyond that unless he was champion.