The UFC has announced they will be hosting UFC Fight Night: Hunt versus Bigfoot on December 7, 2013 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Headlining the event will be fan favourite Mark ‘The Super Samoan’ Hunt, who is set to face Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva.
The Sydney resident has won four of his last five fights and won ‘knockout of the night’ honours in Sydney at UFC 127.
After spending months in hospital for a leg infection following his last fight, a healthy Hunt looks to emerge victorious in Brisbane.
He sat down with The Roar to discuss his December bout.
Jason Tulio: ‘Bigfoot’ Silva. Your thoughts?
Mark Hunt: Good guy. Competitor.
Do you think his size advantage will be a factor in the fight?
No. Bigfoot is a normal-sized heavyweight but everyone is a lot bigger than me.
Do you think it will be a striking war?
I don’t know what it’s going to be, it depends on where Bigfoot wants to take it. I feel he’ll probably try and shoot for takedown.
If he wants to stand and bang, we can stand and bang and party there. It doesn’t matter.
In your own words, what happened in your last fight against Junior Dos Santos?
I lost. That’s it.
How do you feel about headlining a UFC card?
Great opportunity. I’m thankful to the UFC and I’m thankful to the almighty God for giving me this opportunity.
It’s great for me, now I’m headlining a card – how blessed do I feel?
You’ve fought before in Sydney. How do you feel about fighting in Brisbane?
Doesn’t matter, Australia is my home and I’ve been here 20 years.
It’s been 23 years since I’ve had my first fight so to fight in my hometown is good.
Even though I live in Sydney it’s my backyard (laughs).
Aside from yourself, who would you say has been the best MMA fighter to come out of Australia?
There are so many. There’s George (Sotiropoulos), Kyle (Noke), big Jamie (Te Huna), Dylan (Andrews), Robert (Whittaker), Hector (Lombard), Anthony (Perosh).
There are so many guys from here that have actually fought in the biggest competition on the planet.
How do you feel about the landscape of MMA in Australia? Obviously it has grown in the last few years…
And it’s going to grow even more. It’s a matter of process and time. It’ll grow.
Between Pride and the UFC, you have fought some of the biggest names in the sport. Which fight has been your toughest?
This guy named Mark Hunt ‘cause he’s the greatest (laughs).
It’s always been a battle with myself and not the competitor. Everyone I’ve fought has been top level most of the time so the constant battle is just trying to keep fighting at the top. That’s all it is.
Any final words for the fans?
Come check it out, December 7th. Buy a ticket, it’s going to be another awesome show.
It’s going to be sold out. Did you hear that? It’s going to be sold out so get a ticket soon! (laughs)
Tickets for UFC Fight Night: Hunt versus Bigfoot will go on sale on October 10 at ticketek.
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