A modern example of the classic striker vs grappler theme, knockout artist Mark Hunt takes on submission specialist Frank Mir at UFC FightNight 85.
Known for his iron jaw, ferocious power and walk away wins, here’s a look at five of Mark Hunt knockouts in both his kickboxing and MMA career.
5) Mark Hunt vs Hiromi Amada
Having lost to Jerome Lebanner in the quarter finals at the 2000 K1 World Grand Prix in Nagoya, Japan, Mark Hunt returned with a vengeance winning his second K1 Oceania title and qualified himself for the 2001 K1 World Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia.
Standing across him in the quarter finals was 1996 Fukashima Amateur Boxing champion Hiromi Amada. After aggressively stalking him with a series of flying knees, kicks and punches, Hunt landed a thunderous right cross at 2:39 of round 1, crumpling his opponent in the corner of the ring and punching himself a ticket with K1 legend Ernesto Hoost in the semi-finals.
4) Mark Hunt vs Roy Nelson
Known for his cast iron chin and giant belly, Roy Nelson had absorbed punishment from the likes of Junior Dos Santos, Frank Mir, Fabrico Werdum, Stipe Miocic and Mirko Cro Cop without ever losing consciousness in his UFC career prior to his meeting with Hunt.
After both fighters going back and forth for the first 8 minutes of the fight, Hunt threw a pawing jab followed by a lethal right uppercut at 2:02 of Round 2, switching off the lights of Big Country and giving Hunt the walkaway knockout win.
3) Mark Hunt vs Chris Tuchscherer
After going winless from 2006 to 2010, refusing Dana White’s $300,000 buyout offer and dropping his UFC debut to Sean McCorkle the future looked bleak for the Super Samoan. Getting one more chance at UFC 127; the promotions second show in Australia, he was paired up with Brock Lesnar’s training partner Chris ‘The Crowbar’ Tuchscherer in a do or die situation for his career.
Keeping the bout on the feet, Hunt sliced open the eyelid of ‘The Crowbar’ with a left hook, right uppercut combo which caused Tuchscherer to spill a fountain of blood. Displaying much improved grappling defence Mark connected with a right uppercut at 3:22 and casually walked away giving himself his first victory since 2006 and propelling himself to UFC stardom.
2) Mark Hunt vs Stefan Struve
Now on a three fight winning streak, Hunt had a tall over ahead of him facing 7’ 0 heavyweight prospect Stefan Struve at UFC on Fuel 7 in Saitama Japan. With a height, reach, and grappling disadvantage, a victory for Hunt hinged on getting on the inside to touch the questionable chin of the Dutchman.
After surviving the numerous grappling exchanges including being mounted twice, Hunt started finding the range for his hooks on his seven foot foe, after backing up a clearly hurt Struve toward the cage Hunt threw a leaping left hook dropping Struve to the canvas prompting a stoppage by Herb Dean and extending his UFC win streak to four.
Post-fight is was revealed the punishment Struve took from Hunt resulted in a broken jaw which had to be wired shut and kept Struve out of action for over a year.
1) Mark Hunt vs Jerome Lebanner II
Coming into the quarterfinals of the 2001 K1 World GrandPrix at the Tokyo Dome, Mark Hunt surprised onlookers by choosing Jerome LeBanner as his quarter final opponent during the matchmaking process with the intent of evening the score with the Frenchman.
After being on the receiving end of LeBanner’s kicks and knees, Mark started to taunt his opponent by sticking out his chin to heavy applause. From here Hunt initiated a flurry and landed a right hook which backed Lebanner into the corner, prompting Hunt to unleash a barrage a punches, knocking him out with a series of right crosses causing the Frenchman’s head to dribble down like a bobble head.
With his loss avenged Hunt went on to defeat Stefan Leko and Francisco Fihlo later that night becoming the 2001 K1 World Grand Prix Champion.
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