As we get closer and closer to the upcoming UFC 119 event, the UFC seems to be putting a lot of effort into minimizing the debut of former PRIDE FC fighter Mark Hunt. Ever since it was announced that Hunt had signed to the sport’s biggest MMA promotion, the consensus has been that it’s a bad move and makes the UFC look terrible. UFC President Dana White in particular vehemently asserts that Hunt would not be fighting in the promotion under normal circumstances, but that the UFC “owes” Hunt some fights stemming all the way back to the UFC’s 2007 buyout of PRIDE. But is Hunt’s debut being treated too harshly? Is Hunt not getting enough credit? Here are my thoughts.
I’ll start with the positives first: Mark Hunt is an entertaining fighter. He’s lost a lot, but he always seems to go down in spectacular fashion. We’re talking about a guy who bum-rushed Melvin Manhoef, Melvin Manhoef of all people, because he wanted to give the fans a show. He’s fought fighters from all different styles and disciplines, and he always forces them to engage. If Mark Hunt flops out of the UFC, he won’t do it by going quietly into the night. Hunt’s main goal is to finish or get finished, and in an era that increasingly favors fighters who play it safe and grind out decisions, you have to respect him for his tenacity.
But that’s the problem: today’s generation of MMA athletes are beginning to realize the strengths of playing it safe, forcing your opponent into your area of expertise, and then dominating them long enough to grind out a decision. Hunt’s incessant need to entertain is the reason he’s lost so many times. In the here and now, flashy and reckless fighters don’t win fights. And if they do, it’s only until they meet a fighter that can take them out of their element. In today’s world, you either need to be supremely technical with your flashy moves (Jon Jones comes to mind), or you need to abandon them entirely. Hunt should be applauded for trying to make his fights entertaining, but he should also be criticized for taking a lot of unnecessary risks.
That’s the main reason he’s lost five fights in a row, and that’s an atrocious record to have as you head into the biggest MMA promotion in the world. It just makes the UFC look bad. You really can’t fault Dana White for trying to distance himself as much as possible from a man that hasn’t won a fight since 2006. So of course Mark Hunt is carrying a Scarlet Letter with him when he enters the Octagon. How can he not?
The only real redeeming factor about those five losses is that they were against top-quality opponents. These aren’t rookies Hunt lost to. Since his last win in 2006, Hunt has lost to Josh Barnett, Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Melvin Manhoef, and Gegard Mousasi. I don’t think there’s any shame in losing to any of those five men. Losing to them all in a row does carry some shame, but I think that has to do with the losing streak in and of itself, not with the quality of names he’s been fighting. Mark Hunt has lost five in a row, but he’s lost against some of the best competition in the world.
So, in the end, where should the fans stand in their opinion on Mark Hunt? It’s tough to say. Is it better to fail spectacularly or succeed boringly? Is it better to pad out your record with relatively easy wins, or fight the best and lose? Personally, based on all he’s done in the past, I think Mark Hunt at least deserves a chance to impress in the UFC. He’s going to debut whether Dana White likes it or not, whether anyone likes it or not for that matter. What should matter right now is what Mark Hunt will do with the opportunity he’s been given, and right now, that’s all I care about.
But what about you, fans and friends? What are your feelings on the impending UFC debut of Mark Hunt?
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Comments
Ya id have to agree, win or lose we know were not gonna watch a boring chess match, this guys coming to drop bombs on whoever is in front of him, although id kinda like to see him play it a little safer just to see how good he can be, in the fights ive seen, hes kinda like a turtle when hes on his back (screwed), so some takedown defense or learn to pull guard and at least wait the round out, is it that hard to learn or somthin, it looks easy? And with his size and strength wrestling should come naturally.
I find it funny Dana White made so much noise about not signing Fedor or any fighter coming into the UFC on a loss. Yet after he signs Mark Hunt and in the past he’s signed plenty of fighters following a loss or losses.
Can you even read?
“UFC President Dana White in particular vehemently asserts that Hunt would not be fighting in the promotion under normal circumstances, but that the UFC “owes” Hunt some fights stemming all the way back to the UFC’s 2007 buyout of PRIDE.”
Ok but what about Uncle Dana signing Mark Coleman, Jeremy Horn, and Wanderlei Silva following a loss or losses. Yet he when Fedor losses its all of a sudden Zuffa policy to only hire fighters coming off a win.
Mr White may have bought pride and squashed it but seems to me that he has issues with his own pride, who knows why Mark was the only pride fighter to get a contractual agreement only the 2 will know definately but i reckon Mr White had to and thats the reason for his attitude , its his own pride messing wid him, you cant stop something or someone whos meant to be and will always be the peoples champion, even his opponent likes him hes the man,” Mark makes the weight wins the fight and Mr White bites his tounge i hope it bleeds for days.”
As a long time MMA fan I hope Mark Hunt fights well and people who havent seen him before get a shot at what he was like from the PRIDE/K-1 heydays. He’s throwback to guys that just want to fight and shake hands at the end of the fight! He seems to have slimmed right down and enjoying the training @ ATT in Florida so good luck.
Mark Hunt is a tough, well rounded fighter. I remember watching him vs. Fedor and I was shocked at how fast he was for a big guy. His punching power is unparalleled. Everyone is going to try to wrestle the guy and submit, because they can’t trade strikes with him. I’ve watched a lot of his fights. I am pretty sure he hasn’t ever been knocked out. I’m sick of Dana and his ignorant ‘bigger better deal’ BS. He is doing a good job separating and identifying his brand, the UFC, as better or ‘higher class.’ Dana brings a former boxer into the Octagon, as well as Kimbo, both of whom are ticket sellers primarily. Kimbo has shown improvement and is humble, which is good, but honestly if you sell tickets he will love you. You lose and he will call you a chump. Hardly anyone knows Mark Hunt, so Dana doesn’t see dollar signs, and it’s sad. Only in the UFC does a guy with one or two professional fights get called a “champion.” IMO you should have at least twenty or thirty fights under your belt before you sell enough tickets I mean earn the right to be called a champ
Uncle Dana NEEDS Fedor. The UFC will have no legacy without Fedor. Chuck keeps losing. Why not bring in Fedor after one loss.
I can not see why people don’t like this coconut (Pacific Islander), surely the fight agains tuchsherer shows what a draw card he is. I don’t want unanimous decisions, I want KNOCK OUTS and submissions!!!! That is what he has done since he was a kid (a mate of mine went to school with him). He is the sort of fall guy that Dana wants too. Didn’t he say “I want guy who want to flight”, and here is a guy who believes, and can, knock anyone in the world out, and Dana shuns him! So after “having” to give him his shot after coming off of a loss, loosing 1 on the ground (he was always giong to have trouble there) then smacking the skin off of tuchsherer, does Dana retire him? The other option is to turn him loose on society, do you really want that? Let the boy play. Ok so he isn’t the specimen that a Lesnar/Carwin/Jones/GSP are, but is Roy Nelson any better? Hunt vs Nelson, sound good huh?