Mark "Super Samoan" Hunt reigns supreme in Japan: What next?

The fight had the MMA world on the edge of its chairs.

When the referee stepped out of the way and called for the start of the first round the anticipation was clinging to the very walls of the Satiama Super Arena in Tokyo.

Which Mark Hunt would turn up? Could Nelson catch him early? Would this stay on the feet as promised? Who would gas first?

The first round delivered a few answers immediately. Hunt began as the aggressor and it seemed was having little trouble dictating the pace of the fight. Although respectful of Nelson’s power he confidently walked into a range where angels feared to tread. Hunt seems very relaxed and certain of his ability to make Nelson miss.

Three exchanges into the first round and it seemed to be going Hunt’s way. Nelson, aware that he wasn’t beating Hunt to the punch going backwards, shot twice for takedowns and was stuffed. In the latter stages of the round he clipped Hunt with his right hand. It stopped Hunt’s advance and caused a stalemate that saw out the end of the round.

The opening of the second saw a range of fierce exchanges with Hunt again the aggressor. Nelson’s face was bloodied and in the ultimate tip of the hat to Hunt’s stand up prowess, went for the takedown instead of keeping on his feet. Hunt displayed text book takedown defence and shrugged of Nelsons submissions from his back.

As they rose to their feet the Super Samoan backed Nelson up against the cage and with a began a combination that included a thunderous right uppercut. Nelson toppled face first into the floor of the octagon. Hunt proceeded to ignore the referee and stepped over his foe to walk off like he just hit a home run. His Japanese fans went wild.

What does this mean for Hunt?

He showed that he is not just heavy handed but technically an elite striker who will chew up and spit out lesser men on his feet. Why people forget that is beyond this writer, but at age 40 sometimes there is an expectation that the father time will get you eventually. It was not this weekend for Hunt though.

His grappling has improved. Hunt commented during the week that he was surprised at the focus on his trapping as he has been doing BJJ for 13 years. In his last three outings, his submission defence proved to be turning points in the fight.

He is getting better. The Mark Hunt that showed up in his last three fights is a different animal to the one that first arrived in the UFC. He is relaxed, seems to be handling weight cuts better and has dealt out beatings to world class grapplers. His conditioning and strength training seems to have stepped up and he is a much more well rounded fighter.

Who to take on next?

The UFC will look to feed this immensely popular fighter a top five fighter and then give him a shot at the belt. Who is on that list?

Junior Dos Santos: JDS has been booked to fight Stipe Miocic in December. The former World number one has beaten Hunt previously. Hunt hurt his toe in the opening round that took away the crisp movement we saw against Silva and Nelson. He has been calling with a rematch of JDS. If he was not already booked it could be the fight that makes the most sense for both fighters.

Fabricio Werdum: I booked to fight Cain the champion next. Werdum’s game is spectacular and it is hard to see Hunt defending it. He is the worst fight on paper for Hunt to take.

Josh Barnett: Another former foe that Hunt fought in PRIDE and was submitted. I do not see matchmakers putting Hunt in with a specialist grapplers like Werdum and Barnett. However Hunt has asked for a rematch and this would certainly comply with that wish.

Stipe Miocic: This is a fight that makes sense to me but he is booked with JDS. To world class strikers facing off for a shot at the title. I also think this is a fight tailor made for Hunt who will walk Miocic down like Nelson attempted to but justt have too much variety for his feet for him to cope with.

Travis Browne: This would be a fun fight. Browne would have massive range on Hunt and there would be an expectation for the fight to stay standing. Verdum troubled Browne in the stand-up department recently however and getting into the cage with a technician like Hunt would probably force “Happa” and his team to have a solid plan in force the game to the floor. Browne is booked to face Brendan Schaub next.

There is the possibility that Hunt fights Valesquez next. With so many fighters booked already this might be a fight that Dana White forces for the Mark Hunt fans. Why? Because he is one of them.