Mark Hunt

Mark Hunt established himself as a formidable presence in combat sports after winning the prestigious K-1 World Grand Prix in 2001, showcasing his exceptional striking prowess and durability against top-tier heavyweight fighters. This victory followed his K-1 Oceania title win in 2000 and the K-1 World Grand Prix in Fukuoka Repechage B Championship earlier in 2001. His rapid ascent in kickboxing demonstrated a natural talent for knockout power, propelling him into the professional circuit. Following this success, Hunt transitioned to mixed martial arts, debuting in the renowned PRIDE Fighting Championships in 2004.

He later challenged Fabricio Werdum for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 180 in 2014. Maintaining his reputation for thrilling encounters, Hunt secured a TKO win against Antônio Silva at UFC 193 in 2015, followed by a KO win against Frank Mir at UFC Fight Night 85 in 2016, which earned him another ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus. He also competed against Brock Lesnar at UFC 200 in 2016, a result later overturned to a No Contest. His penultimate UFC victory was a TKO win against Derrick Lewis at UFC Fight Night 110 in 2017, earning him another ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus before his final UFC bout against Justin Willis at UFC Fight Night 142 in 2018.

Beyond MMA, Hunt continued his combat career, securing a professional boxing win via TKO against Sonny Bill Williams in 2022. His impactful career was also chronicled in the 2013 documentary ‘The Art of Fighting.’