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Australia’s Mark Hunt scored a stunning first-round knockout of two-time UFC Heavyweight champions Frank Mir in the UFC Fight Night at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
After a tentative opening the 41-year-old landed the decisive blow with the first real scoring punch of the fight, his right hand to the head of Mir ended the contest with one minute and 59 seconds remaining in the round, to the delight of the home crowd.
Mir shimmied to avoid a left jab from Hunt but did not see the follow-up right hand which sent him to the canvas and led the referee to wave the fight off, to give Hunt his ninth knockout in UFC.
Sydney’s Super Samoan, who was ranked as the No.9 heavyweight contender will now climb the rankings and is one step closer to a shot at the heavyweight title he craves.
As for Mir (now 18-11), at 36 his dreams of equalling a record by winning the heavyweight crown three times appears in tatters.
In the main undercard attraction, No.9-ranked welterweight Neil Magny stopped Hector Lombard via technical knockout in the third round of their contest.
After losing the first round, Magny pounded Lombard with over 40 unanswered shots on the mat in the second round but surprisingly the bout was allowed to enter a final round which lasted just 46 seconds.
One of Australia’s top prospects, lightweight Jake Matthews survived a tough examination before forcing a submission via rear naked choke of American Johnny Case with 15 seconds remaining in their three-round contest.
After a difficult second round, 21-year-old Matthews (now 11-1), forced the contest in the third and snapped the 12-fight victory streak of his opponent.
Earlier, Melbourne middleweight Daniel Kelly, 38, pulled off the upset of the night when, as a three-to-one underdog, he stopped Brazilian Ultimate Fighter winner Antonio Carlos Junior in the third round.
The four-time judo Olympian (now 11-1) survived a torrid first round but as the fight went on he took control and a kick to the head firmly put him in control in the final round, leading to the surprise TKO victory.
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