The UFC returns to Australia with their Fight Night series on May 10, and the card will be headlined by a heavyweight tilt between heavy hitters Mark Hunt and Stipe Miocic. Both men are trying to bounce back from losses in fights that were considered step up fights for both men, meaning now both are trying to avoid a two-fight losing streak.
Hunt was stopped by Fabricio Werdum in the second round of their UFC interim title fight. Hunt stepped in on late notice, replacing injured champion Cain Velasquez to save the UFC’s debut card in Mexico. That Hunt, who was (10-8-1) overal heading in, justified a title shot speaks volumes of how respected he is. Hunt did fall short, and at 40 years old now and fighting near his New Zealand home he has reasons to win even if he is done with the idea of making a title run.
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Not giving up on the idea of a title fight is Stipe Miocic, who lost to Junior Dos Santos via unanimous decision after going five hard fought rounds. Dos Santos, a former champion at heavyweight himself, has firmly entrenched himself in the top three of the weight class, so Miocic has to feel he is getting close. Miocic relies on his ability to slug it out with people, and against Dos Santos he fell short. In Hunt, he will have an equally dangerous puncher, but Hunt is also a fighter who is slower and takes punishment.
Not that dos Santos is a defensive wizard, but if Miocic can use his speed to hit and to make Hunt miss, he could come out on top with the judges. The fact that he lasted the full five rounds against dos Santos showed he has overcome earlier problems with his gas tank. Despite Hunt’s reputation for a tonka-tough head, his last two losses have come via stoppage to strikes, so he may be wearing down a bit. Look for Miocic to open a slight favorite in this one when the line hits the books.
Here is a older piece on Mark Hunt, where he talks about why he fights.
