Hunt vs. Mir highlights

There is a meme-inspiring scene in Napoleon Dynamite, where Rex Kwon Do founder Rex says “Just break the wrist, and walk away. Break the wrist; walk away.”

Mark Hunt has his own version, and it’s real.

Just knock them out, and walk away. Knock ’em out; walk away. Hunt did it again to Frank Mir in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Australia. He landed a right on Mir, and then seemed almost relaxed as he surveyed his handiwork, and then walked away.

It was then up to the ref to acknowledge Hunt’s direction.

Mark Hunt is now 41, with one of the most incredible records in MMA.

In 2006 he lost two in a row in PRIDE, but at the highest levels, losing in the Grand Prix quarterfinals, and to Fedor for the heavyweight championship. Then he lost to Overeem – via submission – in DREAM. Then in FIELDS he lost to Melvin Manhoef in 18 seconds, via strikes. Then he was submitted by Gegard Mousasi in DREAM.

That’s five losses in a row. Then the UFC belatedly realized they owed him a fight contract from when they purchased PRIDE. And he lost to Sean McCorkle. But he didn’t quit.

Then Hunt put together four wins in a row in the UFC heavyweight division, where streaks as such that no champion has ever defended his title more than twice in a row.

Things got rough, and Hunt next went just 1-2-1. However, the loss to JDS was the fight of the night. The majority draw with Bigfoot was the fight of the night, and maybe the fight of the ever. The KO of Roy Nelson was a performance bonus, and the KO of the year. And the loss to Werdum was on short notice, and for the title.

But then he fell to Stipe Miocic, and it looked like time had caught up. Mark Hunt was now just 1-3-1 in his last five. And he was 40. It was time.

But it wasn’t.

Hunt came back with a first round KO of Bigfoot in the rematch. And now he has a second first round KO in a row. His star is once again rising.

Mir has had an extraordinary, record setting career in the UFC. But he is 2-6 his last eight. The losses are even split between three damaging KO losses, and three decision losses, which may be more damaging still.

Mir has a profound knowledge of the sport, is mediagenic, and speaks extremely well on camera. This would be a great time to transition to a commentating role. Exactly those prized qualities – speech and a sharp mind behind them – are two of the things that fade in some fighters who stick around too long. 

Mark Hunts career shows that comebacks are possible. And Frank Mir is 36, some five years younger than Mark Hunt. But Frank Mir is not Mark Hunt, as we saw last night.  If Frank Mir decides it is time to retire, we his fans will be really, really happy for him.