UFC: Hunt to meet Bigfoot in epic rematch

Mark Hunt. Photo / Getty Images

Nearly two years on from one of the greatest heavyweight fights in UFC history, Mark Hunt and Antonio Silva will finally settle the score.

New Zealand's Hunt and 'Bigfoot' Silva battled to an epic draw over five rounds during the main event of UFC Fight Night 33 in Brisbane in December, 2013.

Their careers have taken intriguing paths since that bout and they will share the octagon again in the co-main event of UFC 193 in Melbourne on November 15.

Hunt (10-10-1) has mixed his results since the meeting with Bigfoot, which left him with a badly broken hand.

He beat Roy Nelson (20-11) but dropped contests to the 20-5-1 Fabricio Werdum (for the interim heavyweight title) and Stipe Miocic (13-2).

Bigfoot (19-7-1) tested positive for elevated testosterone levels after his meeting with Hunt and spent nine months on the sidelines.

Following that, and the UFC's decision to ban the controversial Testosterone Replacement Therapy, he was stopped in the first round by Andrei Arlovski (24-10, 1 NC) and Frank Mir (18-9) before finally getting back on track with a second-round TKO win over Soa Palelei (22-5) at UFC 190 in Brazil recently.

Hunt worked with Palelei during his training camp in Thailand ahead of the meeting with Silva. The Super Samoan is still in Thailand and will return to New Zealand soon to begin his own training camp.

Hunt's conditioning - or lack thereof - has been an ongoing thorn in his side lately but his head trainer Steve Oliver told the Herald he would be in good shape come November.

"Coming off the back from his prep in Thailand this will be an easier than normal camp; his weight is looking good," Oliver said.

"His focus will just be coming in on weight; and his fitness."

Hunt has often had to perform dramatic weight cuts to squeeze in under the 120.6kg heavyweight limit for non-title UFC bouts but following the company's ban on using IV drips to rehydrate after a weigh-in, his team will need to ensure he is on point during his training camp.

There's one other thing in Hunt's favour as he eyes Bigfoot.
"He's never lost a rematch," Oliver said.

Welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (26-10, 1 NC) will defend his belt against Carlos Condit (30-8) in the main event of the fight card that will be held at Etihad Stadium.

The event, the first in the Victorian capital, could set an all-time attendance record for the UFC.

The current mark is 55,724 from UFC 129 in Toronto in April, 2011 and Etihad could boast a similar, or higher, figure.

"Finally the UFC is coming to Melbourne in what will be the biggest UFC event ever," UFC president Dana White said. "There's been a lot of talk about Melbourne, title fights and stadium shows. The UFC is doing all three at the Etihad Stadium in front of 70,000 people."

Whether they will get 70,000 remains to be seen but it's understood that ticket prices will be competitive.

Also on the card is Auckland-born Australian Robert Whittaker (14-4) who will meet English veteran Michael Bisping (27-7).

Whittaker has won back-to-back fights since moving up to middleweight last year. He is ranked 13th in the division's media-generated pecking order, while Bisping sits at No 8.

A handful of Australians have also been included on the card and more fights were expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, promising Kiwi heavyweight boxer Hemi Ahio moved to 7-0 with a first-round knockout win over Andre Meunier (9-2) in Melbourne last night.