Mark Hunt

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Mark Hunt

On November 2007 in Korakuen Hall
Born Mark Hunt
(1974-03-23) 23 March 1974
South Auckland, New Zealand
Other names Super Samoan
Nationality New Zealander
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 262 lb (119 kg; 18 st 10 lb)
Division Super Heavyweight (kickboxing)
Heavyweight & Super Heavyweight (MMA)
Reach 74 in (188 cm)
Style Boxing, Kickboxing
Fighting out of Minto, New South Wales, Australia
Team Oceania Super Fighter Gym
Liverpool Kickboxing Gym
Tony Mundine Boxing Club
American Top Team
Oliver MMA
Trainer Hape Nganoroa
Marcelo Rezende
Tony Mundine
Ricardo Liborio
Marco Gigante Villela
Steve Oliver
Years active 1999 – 2003, 2008 (Kickboxing)
2004 - present (MMA)
1998, 2000 (Boxing)
Professional boxing record
Total 2
Losses 1
Draws 1
Kickboxing record
Total 43
Wins 30
By knockout 13
Losses 13
By knockout 2
Mixed martial arts record
Total 18
Wins 9
By knockout 6
By decision 3
Losses 8
By knockout 2
By submission 6
Draws 1
Other information
Notable students James Te Huna
Website http://www.markhuntofficial.com
Boxing record from Boxrec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Mark Hunt (born 23 March 1974) is a New Zealander mixed martial artist and former kickboxer of Samoan descent, currently living in Sydney, Australia. Hunt competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the winner of the 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix. Hunt was the first to beat Wanderlei Silva after his 4 year undefeated winning streak in Pride Fighting Championship.

As of 3 February 2014, he is #9 in official UFC heavyweight rankings.[1]

Background

Early career

Hunt was born in Auckland, into a large Samoan family, and was a troubled child. He had no intention to be a professional fighter until a late night altercation outside a nightclub in Auckland changed the course of his life.[2] The brawl did not last long. Sam Marsters, one of the bouncers at the door was impressed by the young man's knockout power and invited him to his gym to take up formal training.[3] [4] Later that year Hunt moved to Sydney, Australia, to train with Alex Tui. A few years later he settled in Liverpool Kickboxing Gym under Maori instructor Hape Ngaranoa.[5] Mark Hunt continues to live in Australia with his wife Julie[6] and their three children.

K-1 career

In the beginning of his career, Hunt was used by the promoters as a stepping stone for their up and coming fighters, taking up fights at short notice, until Tarik Solak promoted K-1 Oceania tournament in February 2000. With a record of (15-4, 3KO) Hunt entered his first K-1 tournament as a heavy underdog.

He won the K-1 Oceania title by knocking out "The Coconut Crusher" Aumitagi in quarter finals, Rony Sefo in semis and Phil Fagan in the finals. After this impressive performance he was invited to Japan for K-1 qualifications. He lost his first international fight by unanimous decision against Jérôme Le Banner.

In 2001, Hunt returned to K-1 by winning the K-1 Oceania tournament for the second consecutive year. After that he took part of K-1 World GP 2001 in Melbourne, where he beat Japanese boxer Hiromi Amada, before suffering a close unanimous decision loss to reigning champion Ernesto Hoost. However, because of his exciting fighting style Hunt was granted a wildcard spot in the repercharge tournament for the K-1 World GP 2001 Finals, when Mirko Filipović had to pull out due to injury. He was drawn against Ray Sefo, who won the bout by outpointing Hunt. After the fight however, Sefo suffered an eye injury and was not able to continue, allowing Hunt to proceed in his place. Hunt then TKO'd Adam Watt to earn his place in the K-1 World Grand Prix Finals at the Tokyo Dome.

During the matchmaking for the K-1 Finals, Hunt surprised the crowd by choosing Jérôme Le Banner, whom he had just lost in the previous year, as his quarterfinal opponent. Hunt won the rematch by knocking out Le Banner in the second round and advanced himself onto the semi-finals facing Stefan Leko. Hunt knocked down Leko two times in the first round and went on to win the fight by unanimous decision. The stage was set for the final battle against Brazilian Kyokushin karate champion Francisco Filho. In the final Hunt defeated Filho by unanimous decision to become the K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 champion.

In 2002, Hunt went to Paris to fight Le Banner again for the third time what turned out to be one of the biggest battles in K-1 history. Le Banner, fighting in front of his hometown audience, knocked down Hunt in the second round but was in turn knocked down himself a few seconds later. In the final moments of the round, Hunt was knocked down for the second time again by the powerful Frenchman. In between rounds the towel was thrown in as Hunt could not continue.

On 17 December 2002, Mark Hunt returned to defend his K-1 World Grand Prix title. In quarter finals, entering the third round and behind on all scorecards, Mark was able to connect with a right cross that knocked out Stefan Leko and advanced him to the semi-finals against his career long nemesis Jerome Le Banner. Despite knocking down the Frenchman at the end of the third round, Hunt lost the fight by decision. It would to be his last K-1 World Grand Prix appearance.

In April 2008, FEG announced Hunt's return to K-1 and nominated him as the challenger of K-1 Super Heavyweight title held by Semmy Schilt. The match was held on 13 April 2008, in Yokohama, Japan at the K-1 World GP 2008 in Yokohama. Hunt lost the fight at the end of the first round by spinning back kick to the body.

Mixed martial arts career

PRIDE Fighting Championship

Hunt's mixed martial arts career saw him fight in events in Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championships. His first MMA fight was a submission loss to Hidehiko Yoshida, an Olympic gold medalist in judo. In his second fight, he defeated American wrestler Dan Bobish by TKO. Hunt stepped in as a late replacement for Sakuraba, and won a split decision against an outweighed PRIDE middleweight (205 lb) champion Wanderlei Silva. Silva, renowned for his brutal punching and Muay Thai clinch game, was neutralized by the hard-hitting Samoan and knocked down several times in the fight. At the PRIDE Shockwave 2005 event, Hunt surprisingly defeated Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović via a split decision, after his earlier loss to him in K-1. At PRIDE 31: Unbreakable, Hunt defeated Japanese boxer Yosuke Nishijima in the third round with a powerful one-two punch.[7]

Hunt's next fight was in the opening round of PRIDE's 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix (PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute) on 5 May 2006. His opponent was Japan's Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, who he defeated by TKO in the second round. He then faced American catch-wrestler Josh Barnett at PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute in the second round of the tournament. Hunt was immediately taken down by Barnett and ultimately lost to a kimura submission roughly two and a half minutes into the first round.

Following that fight, Hunt next lost to PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko at PRIDE Shockwave 2006. Hunt controlled Emelianenko most of the fight and even effectively countered an armbar early in the bout. Hunt's greatest chance of winning came when he was able to put Emelianenko in an americana. Unfortunately for Hunt, Emelianenko was able to fight through it and submit Hunt with a kimura.

Post-PRIDE

On 21 July 2008, more than a year after his last MMA fight, Hunt returned to MMA to face Alistair Overeem at DREAM 5, and was submitted by an armlock in just over a minute into the first round.

Hunt was set to fight Jerome Le Banner at Dynamite!! 2008 but ended up fighting late replacement Melvin Manhoef after Le Banner pulled out. Despite the fact that he had a substantial weight advantage over Manhoef, he was knocked out in 18 seconds in the first round. This marked the first time he had been stopped by knockout due to punches to the head.

On 26 May 2009, Hunt fought former Dream Middleweight Champion Gegard Mousasi in the opening round of the Super Hulk Grand Prix at Dream 9. He lost by submission in the first round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Hunt made his UFC debut on 25 September 2010 at UFC 119 against fellow UFC newcomer and undefeated prospect Sean McCorkle.[8] Hunt trained with American Top Team for the fight. Photos that had emerged on the internet had shown that Hunt had lost a considerable amount of weight in comparison to that of his Pride days.[9] He was defeated via Submission (straight armbar) at 1:03 of the first round.

Hunt's next fight in the UFC was against Chris Tuchscherer at UFC 127 on 27 Feb. in Sydney, Australia.[10] Hunt defeated Tuchscherer in the second round via KO, earning Knockout of the Night.[11] Also snapping his six fight losing streak and giving him his first victory in nearly five years.

Hunt followed this performance with a decision win over Ben Rothwell at UFC 135 on 24 September 2011.[12]

Hunt next faced Cheick Kongo on 26 February 2012 at UFC 144.[13] Hunt won the fight via TKO due to punches, at 2:11 of the first round.

Hunt was expected face Stefan Struve on 26 May 2012 at UFC 146.[14] However, he pulled out of the bout due to injury ten days prior to the event.[15]

The bout with Struve was rescheduled for 3 March 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV 8.[16] Hunt defeated Struve via third round TKO, after dropping him to the floor by a huge left hook that also broke Struve's jaw,[17] earning Knockout of the Night honors.[18]

Hunt faced Junior dos Santos on 25 May 2013 at UFC 160, replacing an injured Alistair Overeem.[19] Hunt lost the fight via knockout in the third round in a bout that earned both partipants Fight of the Night honors.[20] Afterwards, some major MMA media outlets was considering this to be the best fight in the history of the UFC heavyweight division.[21]

Hunt faced Antonio Silva in the main event on 7 December 2013 at UFC Fight Night 33.[22] The fight went to a decision, with one judge scoring it 48-47 for Hunt while the other two had the scores even, 47-47, resulting in a majority draw.[23][24] Post-fight, Dana White stated that the bout won Fight of the Night and, despite the draw result, both men would receive their win bonuses.[25] The bout with Silva was called one of the best in heavyweight history.[26][27] In addition to winning a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, Hunt won an extra $50,000 bonus originally meant for Silva due to Silva failing his post fight drug test, giving Hunt total of $100,000 from the Fight of the Night bonus award. For Hunt, the bout is still a "draw" on his official record, while in Silva's case it was overturned to a no-contest.[28]

Championships and Accomplishments

Kickboxing

  • World Kickboxing Federation
    • 1999 WKBF Australian Super Heavyweight Champion[31]

Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#c5d2ea; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-draw" |Draw 9–8–1 Antonio Silva Draw (majority) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot 7 December 2013 5 5:00 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Fight of the Night; Silva failed post-fight drug test
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 9–8 Junior dos Santos KO (spinning heel kick) UFC 160 25 May 2013 3 4:18 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–7 Stefan Struve TKO (punches) UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann 3 March 2013 3 1:44 Saitama, Japan Knockout of the Night
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–7 Cheick Kongo TKO (punches) UFC 144 26 February 2012 1 2:11 Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–7 Ben Rothwell Decision (unanimous) UFC 135 24 September 2011 3 5:00 Denver, Colorado, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–7 Chris Tuchscherer KO (punch) UFC 127 27 February 2011 2 1:41 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Knockout of the Night
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5–7 Sean McCorkle Submission (straight armbar) UFC 119 25 September 2010 1 1:03 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5–6 Gegard Mousasi Submission (straight armbar) Dream 9 26 May 2009 1 1:20 Yokohama, Japan Dream Super Hulk Grand Prix Quarterfinal. Fought at catchweight of 212 pounds.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5–5 Melvin Manhoef KO (punches) [[Dynamite!! 2008]] 31 December 2008 1 0:18 Saitama, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5–4 Alistair Overeem Submission (keylock) Dream.5 21 July 2008 1 1:11 Osaka, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5–3 Fedor Emelianenko Submission (kimura) Pride Shockwave 2006 31 December 2006 1 8:16 Saitama, Japan For Pride Heavyweight Championship
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5–2 Josh Barnett Submission (kimura) Pride Critical Countdown Absolute 1 July 2006 1 2:02 Saitama, Japan Pride Openweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–1 Tsuyoshi Kohsaka TKO (punches) Pride Total Elimination Absolute 5 May 2006 2 4:15 Osaka, Japan Pride Openweight Grand Prix Opening Round
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–1 Yosuke Nishijima KO (punch) Pride 31 26 February 2006 3 1:18 Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–1 Mirko Filipović Decision (split) Pride Shockwave 2005 31 December 2005 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–1 Wanderlei Silva Decision (split) Pride Shockwave 2004 31 December 2004 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–1 Dan Bobish TKO (kick to the body) Pride 28 31 October 2004 1 6:23 Saitama, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 0–1 Hidehiko Yoshida Submission (armbar) Pride Critical Countdown 2004 20 June 2004 1 5:25 Saitama, Japan

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing Record

Legend:       Win       Loss       Draw/No contest       Notes

Professional boxing record

0 Wins (0 knockouts, 0 decisions), 1 Losses, 1 Draw
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Draw 0-1-1Australia Joe Askew PTS 4 2000-04-23 New South Wales Wyong RSL Club, Wyong, New South Wales, Australia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 0-1Australia John Wyborn PTS 3 1998-08-21 New South Wales Bondi Diggers Club, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

See also

References

  1. UFC Fighter Rankings
  2. "Mike Hunt Profile". pridefc.com. Retrieved 11 November 2007. 
  3. ""The Hunt is on" By Michael Schiavello". axkickboxing.com. Retrieved 11 November 2007. 
  4. "Mark Hunt: The Rock". graciemag.com. Retrieved 11 November 2007. 
  5. "Interview with Mark Hunt (April 2001)". muaythaionline.com. Retrieved 11 November 2007. 
  6. "Julie Hunt Mark Hunt’s wife". Fabwags.com. Retrieved 2013-05-22. 
  7. Greatest Pride Fighting Knockouts, Video of Unbreakable, retrieved 16 February 2007
  8. http://www.mmabay.co.uk/2010/07/08/ufc-119-–-mark-hunt-vs-sean-mccorkle-in-the-works-for-september-25th-in-indianapolis-indiana/
  9. "Mark Hunt gets in shape for Sept. 25 fight against Sean McCorkle". 13 September 2010. 
  10. Pishna, Ken (1 January 2011). "Mark Hunt vs. Chris Tuchscherer Fills Up UFC 127 Fight Card". MMAWeekly.com. Retrieved 1 January 2011. 
  11. "UFC 127 bonuses: Hunt, Noke, Lytle and Ebersole earn $75,000". mmajunkie.com. 2011-02-27. 
  12. Stupp, Dann. "UFC 135 main-card results: Jones chokes out 'Rampage,' Koscheck KOs Hughes". mmaJunkie.com. Retrieved 25 September 2011. 
  13. "Chieck Kongo vs. Mark Hunt Verbally Agreed to for UFC 144 in Japan". mmaweekly.com. 20 November 2011. 
  14. "Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve completes all-heavyweight UFC 146 main card". mmajunkie.com. 14 March 2012. 
  15. "Mark Hunt Out of UFC 146; Lavar Johnson Now Meets Stefan Struve". mmafighting.com. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012. 
  16. "Stefan Struve vs. Mark Hunt Likely for UFC on Fuel 8 in Japan". mmaweekly.com. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2012. 
  17. "Stefan Struve breaks jaw in UFC on Fuel TV 8 loss (to Mark Hunt)". mmajunkie.com. 4 March 2013. 
  18. "UFC on Fuel TV 8 bonuses Wanderlei Silva, Brian Stann, Mark Hunt win $50,000". mmajunkie.com. 3 March 2013. 
  19. "Mark Hunt gets UFC 160 shot at former champ Junior dos Santos after all". mmajunkie.com. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2013. 
  20. "UFC 160 bonuses fight night awards". mmajunkie.com. 2013-05-26. 
  21. "UFC 160: Why Hunt vs dos Santos was the best match in UFC heavyweight history". bleacherreport.com. 2013-05-26. 
  22. Staff (2013-09-04). "Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva targeted for UFC's December return to Australia". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-09-04. 
  23. Staff (2013-12-07). "Antonio Silva drew with Mark Hunt". mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 2013-12-07. 
  24. Geno Mrosko (2013-12-07). "UFC Fight Night 33 results: Mark Hunt vs. Bigfoot Silva goes to a draw". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2013-12-07. 
  25. Staff. "UFC Fight Night 33 bonuses: Rua, Silva and Hunt pick up $50,000 awards". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 12-07-2013. 
  26. "UFC Fight Night 33 results: Mark Hunt and 'Bigfoot' Silva goes to draw in classic brawl". mmafighting.com. 2013-12-07. 
  27. "Hunt, Silva combine for fight so good, normal rules don't apply". mmajunkie.com. 2013-12-07. 
  28. "Antonio Silva fails post-fight drug test". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 17 December 2013. 
  29. "Mark Hunt stats". fansofk1.com. 2010-01-29. 
  30. "Mark Hunt from gold to old and back again". thesportspost.com. 2013-05-24. 
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 "Mark Hunt Stats". absolutemma.net.au. 
  32. "UFC 127 performance bonuses". mmaweekly.com. 2011-02-27. 
  33. "UFC on FUEL TV 8 bonuses". mmamania.com. 2013-03-03. 
  34. "UFC 160 bonuses and awards". mmamania.com. 2013-05-26. 
  35. "UFC Fight Night 33 bonuses: 'Bigfoot' Silva, Mark Hunt, 'Shogun' Rua get $50K awards". sherdog.com. 2013-12-06. 
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 http://www.fightmatrix.com/fightmatrix-awards/

External links

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