Following six months of a rather public spat between Mark Hunt and the UFC, ‘The Super Samoan’ is finally set to return after accepting a second fight against Alistair Overeem at UFC 209.
Almost nine years after they first clashed at Dream 5 in Osaka, Japan, Hunt will get his opportunity for revenge over ‘The Reem’ on March 5th, although it was a fight that almost never came to fruition.
Following his now ruled ‘no contest’ with Brock Lesnar last summer at UFC 200, Hunt was unhappy to say the least with regards to the punishment and lack of monetary kick back he received due to Lesnar testing positive for performing enhancing drugs.
While he remained headstrong on trying to get new terms and conditions implemented into his contract to ensure he’d be protected financially if any future opponents tested positive for PEDs, Hunt eventually caved in and signed the bout agreement – for the good of his family.
“Think it from my position, I had no other option,” Hunt said this week. “I can’t work anywhere else so what am I supposed to do – let my family starve?”
The popular heavyweight, master of the walkaway KO, went on to criticise the Nevada State Athletic Commission and ridiculed the fine they imposed on Lesnar, using it as an example that unfortunately, it still pays to cheat.
“I didn’t even think the [Nevada commission] penalty was harsh enough,” Hunt added. “He got a $250,000 fine but he made about $2 million bucks so how did it actually affect him? They (dopers) should be struck from the records and taken everything off them. They don’t deserve to get a cent. This sport is already harsh enough as it is. When you add in steroid use it makes it even worse.”
At 42, Hunt is now probably entering the final years of a fighting career which spans 13 years. Currently ranked #6 in the official UFC rankings, if Hunt can defeat Overeem, ranked #3, that would certainly go a long way to re-asserting himself into title contention.
