Now 41 years old, Mark Hunt has overcome massive obstacles and odds over the course of his two-decade fighting career. A former K-1 kickboxing world champion gifted with ridiculous striking power and a tough chin, Hunt’s obvious weaknesses have been repeatedly taken advantage of over the years, hence his fairly poor MMA record consisting of ten victories, nine defeats and a draw. Hunt’s rise from undesirable Pride castaway to UFC title challenger has been nothing short of spectacular, and is easily the greatest career turnaround in the history of the sport.
Hunt’s game plan is extremely simple: He aims to knock the other man out. As mentioned previously the New Zealand native possesses scary power in his punches, his lunging left hook and uppercut being two of his most feared weapons. He's the king of the walkaway knockout. Hunt’s footwork, methodical pace and lead jab are also extremely effective. Believe the hype; Mark Hunt is one of the most dangerous strikers in the game today.
As is almost always the case with elite strikers, grapplers are their kryptonite. Hunt may have improved his takedown defense significantly since debuting with the organisation five years ago, but it’s been demonstated on multiple occasions that if pressed hard enough, he can eventually be taken down to the mat. Stipe Miocic is a former NCAA Division I wrestler and will most likely look to use these skills to secure his thirteenth career victory.
Unlike Hunt, Miocic is athletic and well rounded. His wrestling can be used both offensively and defensively, and his ability to not only dish out but receive punishment has been well documented, especially in his last bout, a gruelling five round war with dos Santos. In addition Miocic will also possess significant advantages in speed, cardio and submissions. It should be a fairly easy victory for the Ohio-based fighter, but his striking confidence could see the fight take a completely different turn.
Prediction: An interesting heavyweight encounter that could go a number of different ways, the fight is almost certainly Miocic’s to lose; he’s younger, smarter and far more versatile than his ageing opponent. Hunt however only needs one shot to end it all, something he has demonstrated time after time. With a potential title eliminator fight awaiting the victor, it’s highly unlikely that Miocic will risk spending too much time within Hunt’s reach. It’ll be a surprisingly competitive bout, but Miocic should be able to withstand most of his opponent’s offence, score points with a mixture of takedowns and strikes en-route to a hard earned decision victory.
Unlike Hunt, Miocic is athletic and well rounded. His wrestling can be used both offensively and defensively, and his ability to not only dish out but receive punishment has been well documented, especially in his last bout, a gruelling five round war with dos Santos. In addition Miocic will also possess significant advantages in speed, cardio and submissions. It should be a fairly easy victory for the Ohio-based fighter, but his striking confidence could see the fight take a completely different turn.
Prediction: An interesting heavyweight encounter that could go a number of different ways, the fight is almost certainly Miocic’s to lose; he’s younger, smarter and far more versatile than his ageing opponent. Hunt however only needs one shot to end it all, something he has demonstrated time after time. With a potential title eliminator fight awaiting the victor, it’s highly unlikely that Miocic will risk spending too much time within Hunt’s reach. It’ll be a surprisingly competitive bout, but Miocic should be able to withstand most of his opponent’s offence, score points with a mixture of takedowns and strikes en-route to a hard earned decision victory.
UFC Fight Night 65 Main Card Predictions - Picks in bold:
Lightweight - Jake Matthews vs. James Vick
Light Heavyweight - Anthony Perosh vs. Sean O’Connell
Middleweight - Brad Tavares vs. Robert Whittaker
Heavyweight - Stipe Miocic vs. Mark Hunt
UFC FIght Picks 2015 Record (18-7)
What do you think will happen at UFC FIght Night? Leave your picks below!
Lightweight - Jake Matthews vs. James Vick
Light Heavyweight - Anthony Perosh vs. Sean O’Connell
Middleweight - Brad Tavares vs. Robert Whittaker
Heavyweight - Stipe Miocic vs. Mark Hunt
UFC FIght Picks 2015 Record (18-7)
What do you think will happen at UFC FIght Night? Leave your picks below!