The UFC’s first ever event in Mexico suffered a major blow when Mexican-American UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was forced out of the main event due to injury.
The UFC had three weeks to organise someone to take Velasquez’s place and fight for an interim title.
Enter Sydney-based mixed martial artist Mark ‘Super Samoan’ Hunt.
After becoming the first ever man to knock-out Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson last month in Japan, Hunt found himself placed at number four in the heavyweight rankings, thus in direct title contention.
With second-ranked Junior ‘Cigano’ dos Santos, third-ranked Travis ‘Hapa’ Browne, and fifth-ranked Stipe Miocic all booked for fights, Hunt was the only logical replacement.
Should the Sydneysider reign supreme over Werdum in Mexico, not only would he be the first ever Australian-based UFC interim champion, he will be one fight away from becoming the first ever Australian-based UFC champion.
Velasquez versus Hunt for the UFC heavyweight championship in Australia would be a sell-out event, and would do wonders for MMA in this country – both for the sport and as inspiration for those looking to break into the UFC.
Should the UFC decide to hold a pay-per-view event in Australia, the fights would have to be held during early afternoons in order for convenient live showings in the United States.
UFC president Dana White has been vocal in his desire to expand the company in the Asia Pacific region, and a title fight in Australia with an local interim title holder would be a sure-fire way to achieve rapid audience growth.
Will it ever happen? Well we can dream. Hunt has been given the opportunity of a lifetime, and win, lose or draw, he will have the support of the entire nation behind him.
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