UFC Ultimate Fighting Column: Mark Hunt one win away from headlining UFC 193 Melbourne

MARK Hunt in preliminary discussions to headline Etihad Stadium at UFC 193 in Melbourne, which was finally rubber stamped by UFC officials this week.

MARK Hunt is set to be catapulted into a heavyweight title fight — in front of 50,000 screaming Aussies at UFC 193 in Melbourne — if he wins his next bout against gritty American Stipe Miocic.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal preliminary discussions are already underway to have Hunt headline the Etihad Stadium blockbuster, which was finally rubber stamped by UFC officials this week.

The 40-year-old cult figure, who fights Miocic in Adelaide this May, would top a stacked card involving two title bouts — with Ronda Rousey already firming to appear on the co-main.

While UFC officials were remaining tight-lipped about the card yesterday, the Hunt title shot is virtually assured should he beat Miocic, who sits one above him in the rankings at fourth.

Helping the cause is the fact reigning UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez returns from injury in June, challenging Fabricio Werdum at UFC 188 in Mexico City.

It was at the same venue back in November where Hunt lost the interim heavyweight title to Werdum, albeit after shedding 20kg in 22 days as a late inclusion.

Quizzed on the likelihood of Hunt being given another shot at the gold strap in November, UFC Australia boss Tom Wright said: “Certainly we’ve started the process of discussing who we want in Melbourne.

“But that takes time. And as you know, there’s a lot can happen between now and November.

“But we’ve already said we’ll be bringing championship belts down here for that event and, yes, heavyweight could be one of them. Cain and Frabricio fighting in June, the timing would be right.

“But it’s impossible to say right now who is coming.”

AND so we come to Stipe Miocic.

For if there is one man who cannot see Hunt fighting for a title in November, it’s the gritty Cleveland heavyweight who, when asked this week where he dominates his rival, replied: “Everywhere”.

Everywhere?

“Wherever this fight goes, I win,’’ Miocic said of the Adelaide Fight Night headliner. “Standing, to the ground, against the cage, doesn’t matter.

“Mark is tough. Real tough. But I’m going in there to knock him out.”

And as for travelling halfway around the world to have an entire Australian stadium against you?

“I’ve fought Brazilians in Brazil,’’ he laughed. “It can’t be worse than that.”

HUNT HECKLES MIOCIC

STILL on Miocic and the big heavyweight got something of a shock early Tuesday morning when, standing on George Street, Sydney, he was heckled by a passing motorist.

Mark Hunt.

“Stipe, he couldn’t believe it,” Hunt laughs. “I shouted out that I was coming for him, was gunna knock him out.”

Really?

“Nah, not really. I just yelled out ‘Steee-pay’. But still, he looked surprised.”

Elsewhere, we reckon UFC boss Dana White should throw Miocic a little extra cash after this US slugger spent almost more time flying than grounded for this week’s whirlwind Australian promo tour. Miocic flew over 52 hours from Cleveland to Adelaide return — with a brief morning break in Sydney. And all for a Monday press conference than lasted just over an hour.

“But at least I’ve seen some sun,’’ he laughed. “When I left Cleveland it was three degrees. Now here in Adelaide, look, I’m wearing sandals.”

LUCAS BROWNE BACK TO MMA?

SHOULD Lucas ‘Big Daddy’ Browne make a switch back to MMA?

While the tattooed Sydney boxer has finally been given a heavyweight title shot later this year — as the mandatory for WBA champ Ruslan Chagaev — a host of fight fans want the 35-year-old back in MMA, where he started his career.

Indeed, Australian heavyweight Mark Hunt believes his old sparring partner would have no trouble slotting straight into the UFC heavyweight division.

“Could Lucas make it? Oh, yeah,’’ Hunt said. “The guy was running riot here in the local MMA scene a few years ago.

“And now he’s boxing for a heavyweight title.

“I’m really happy to see the way he’s worked up to this opportunity. But if he wanted to switch back, he could do it.

“It would be all up to him, of course. But Lucas is a real talented fighter.”

Undefeated in 22 professional bouts, and with 19 knock outs on his resume, Browne is on a stunning tear now being overseen by Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech.

Chagaev (33-2-1) boasts 20 KO wins, with his only losses in the pro ranks coming at the hands of Olympic gold medallists Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin.

Last year Klitschko scored a first-round stoppage of Alex Leapai, the first Australian to fight for the unified world heavyweight title in 106 years.

SILVA IS LIKE ARMSTRONG

UFC favourite Rich Franklin has likened Anderson Silva to disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, saying: “As soon as you test positive for PEDs, that’s what people remember”.

Speaking with Aussie broadcaster Submission Radio this week, Franklin hit out at the Brazilian great who is awaiting punishment after testing positive to multiple performance-enhancing drugs.

“It’s a shame ... (because) that’s what he’ll leave his career on,’’ Franklin said. “Even if he doesn’t leave now, (drugs) will be the overriding factor that is remembered.

“Much like Lance Armstrong. He won all those Tour de France events, but as soon as he tested positive for PEDs, that’s all people remember; you forget the accomplishments the guy had.

“You also start wondering things like ‘well how long was he on that?’.”

Like maybe when you and Anderson fought?

“To say that thought never crossed my mind would be a lie,’’ Franklin continued. “Regardless, even if he did, I’m not sure it would have made a difference.

“I don’t want this conversation being ‘Rich Franklin is blaming PEDs for his loss to Anderson’, that’s not the case. But somebody tweeted the other day that I’ve fought eight people associated with TRT at some point in their careers. So you start thinking about those kinds of things.”

Originally published as UFC Ultimate Fighting Column: Mark Hunt one win away from headlining UFC 193 Melbourne