Mark Hunt, the Super Samoan, gets his big chance at UFC 180

A FEW years ago, his career was on the scrapheap. But suddenly, the “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt is getting the opportunity of a lifetime.

THE “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt is getting his opportunity at a real-life Rocky moment.

Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has dropped out of the main event of the upcoming UFC 180 fight card for the promotion’s debut in Mexico, meaning the Sydney-based mixed martial artist gets the chance of a lifetime.

Velasquez was returning for the first time in over a year after shoulder surgery sidelined the champion prior to filming for The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America picked up this summer.

Now it appears he will be out of action again after suffering a knee injury in training that forced him to withdraw from the main event in Mexico.

With Velasquez out and three weeks to go until show time, Hunt has been offered and accepted the slot to face Fabricio Werdum in November as the new main event for UFC 180 with the interim heavyweight title on the line.

Hunt accepted the fight following his second round knockout over Roy Nelson at the UFC Fight Night in Japan in September.

The win moved Hunt to 5-1-1 in his past six fights with his only loss coming to former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in May 2013.

That record is all the more remarkable considering Hunt lost six consecutive bouts between 2006 and 2010, the UFC even trying to boot him from the promotion when they offered to buy out the remainder of his contract.

Hunt famously refused. Now, just a few years — and several highlight reel knockouts — later, he has the chance to seize the UFC heavyweight title.

“I feel blessed to have this opportunity to fight for another world title,” Hunt said.

“This is something that doesn’t happen often to people. First K1 and now UFC — how can I say no, even though it’s on short notice? I’m dropping everything and flying to Mexico tomorrow so I can best prepare myself for this fight. I have to get into shape and acclimatise to that environment, which is really important.

The Super Samoan Mark Hunt.

“There’s nothing to lose when you’re competing against the best at the top level.”

Hunt has been itching for a chance to compete for the UFC heavyweight title for some time now and it seems as if he’ll get his chance while facing Werdum in November.

Werdum, who is already training full time in Mexico to prepare for the bout, just rolled with the punches and still looks forward to competing for the heavyweight title in November.

“I’m ready for whatever comes. I have been training in Mexico for nearly two months and accept the challenge that is presented to me. I’ll continue to prepare and will arrive ready to fight on behalf of all my Latin American fans,” said Werdum.

Velasquez will have surgery to repair the injury, but according to sources it won’t put him out of action for more than a few weeks.

“I’m so unbelievably disappointed that this happened,” Velasquez said. “To say I was looking forward to fighting in Mexico for the first time is an understatement. I wanted to fight on that card so bad. Looks like it wasn’t meant to be and it’s not going to happen. I’m going to get my [right] knee fixed and get back to training as soon as I can. I’m sorry to the fans in Mexico who were expecting this fight, and I hope to be able to come down and still be a part of this historic event.”

FOX Sports confirmed with sources close to the champion’s camp that it was his right meniscus that suffered the injury, forcing him to withdraw from the event.

The UFC 180 card definitely takes a hit unfortunately with Velasquez no longer fighting considering he was the main draw for many of the Mexican fans attending the sold out show.

As of now, UFC 180 will move forward with Werdum vs. Hunt as the new main event.

Originally published as Mark Hunt, the Super Samoan, gets his big chance at UFC 180