UFC: Hunt makes weight in Adelaide

Mark Hunt has made weight ahead of his battle with American Stipe Miocic. Photo / Getty

Headline act Mark Hunt has made weight ahead of his UFC Fight Night 65 battle with American Stipe Miocic in Adelaide tomorrow.

Hunt, who never has an easy time getting down to the UFC's non-title fight maximum of 266 pounds (120.6kg) for heavyweights, was exactly on the dot at 266 pounds at today's weigh-ins. Miocic (12-2) tipped in at 243 pounds (110kg).

The Super Samoan will be looking to improve on his 10-9-1 professional record in South Australia and a victory could vault him in to title contention. Miocic is fourth in the UFC's media-generated divisional rankings, one spot ahead of Hunt.

In the co-main event, Auckland-born Australian Robert Whittaker (13-4) weighed 185 pounds (84kg) for his middleweight clash with Brad Tavares (13-3) who was 184 pounds (83.5kg).

Auckland featherweight Dan Hooker (11-5) was on the money at 145 pounds (65.8kg) for his duel with Japan's Hatsu Hioki (27-8-2) who was at the maximum 146 pounds (66.2kg).

Gold Coast-based Kiwi Dylan Andrews (17-6, 1 NC) and England's Brad Scott (9-3) both weighed 185 pounds ahead of their middleweight meeting.

Whittaker has plenty to gain from his fight tomorrow given Tavares sits at 14th in the divisional rankings while the Australian is unranked.

"I have no idea about that sort of stuff. That's beyond me, but yeah I don't know why they underestimate me so much. You know, I encourage it," Whittaker told Submission Radio.

"Underestimate me and I'll flip you upside down, but it might be because we live in Australia and I don't really leave my house much."

Whittaker made his middleweight debut in impressive fashion with a second-round TKO win over American Clint Hester (11-4) at UFC Fight Night 55 in Sydney in November after moving up from welterweight.

"Yeah, you know being in the middleweight division is where I belong. This is my home now. Moving back down to welterweight isn't an option, and yeah I'm here to stay. This is my sport."

That battle with Hester was a 'Fight of the Night' special, which netted Whittaker a US$50,000 bonus and he'd love more of the same with a win over Tavares tomorrow.

"I know I can finish him, it's just a matter of when. Whether it's in one minute or 15, it doesn't bother me. I'm going to go in there and I'm going to throw everything I have at him, and if he can handle it, good on him," he said.

"I think it's definitely going to be a stand-up battle. The only time it won't be is if he decides that he doesn't want to."