Mark Hunt will not replace Alistair Overeem at UFC 146
Posted on April 15, 2012, 10:57 AM by Mike DrahotaIt appears that the many fans lobbying to get Mark Hunt into the title fight at May's UFC 146 have fallen just short. The effort put forth by his fans was staggering and very respectful, but UFC President Dana White made it clear that Hunt will have to work his way up the ladder and best a top-tier Heavyweight in order to get a title shot. Not wanting to give anyone preferential treatment, White had the following to say on the issue:
"They can keep rallying. That ain't going to happen. Listen, Mark Hunt is going to have to fight one of the top guys. You don't just jump right into the title shot." - via mmajunkie.com
While Alistair Overeem is technically not suspended as of yet, he will come before the NSAC on April 24 to determine his licensing eligibility. Most are expecting him to be denied his license to fight in Nevada, so speculation of a title challenger still runs rampant. Frank Mir is believed to be the most deserving Heavyweight challenger available, but no announcement has been made. Hunt is still on schedule to face the young and surging Stefan Struve, something White supports. White continued:
"I have apologized and praised Mark Hunt for what he's been able to accomplish in the situation that he was in. I think this fight with Struve is a good fight for him. If he beats Struve, he'll break in and start fighting some of the top-five heavyweights in the world. But first of all, I've got to say, anything can happen in a fight, but in all reality, it's not fair to Mark Hunt either to put the guy right in there with a Junior Dos Santos for a title shot. The guy (ideally) works his way up, he beats Struve, fights somebody in the top-five."
White's words would suggest that he is very supportive of Hunt but also realistic, not wanting to throw Hunt to the wolves in a title fight he may or may not be ready for. Either way, the support that Hunt has garnered in the weeks following Overeem's failed drug test is staggering. When asked about the rallying effort, Hunt simply stated:
"I think they just like to see someone that's been down for such a long time and come back. Everyone has hard times. This whole planet is going through bad times. I think it's just that they like to see the underdog get some. It's always the other way around.”
Hunt seems to have a great attitude concerning the situation, and this should continue to increase his popularity with fans. He has built up momentum recently by beating Chris Tuchscherer, Ben Rothwell, and finally Cheick Kongo via knockout in Japan. Is he ready for the title shot? Or should he work his way up with a few more fights in the deep UFC Heavyweight division?
Further Reading: Frank Mir: I would feel slighted if someone else were picked to fight dos Santos
Comments
I have to agree with Dana here. Of course Hunt vs JDS would be an awesome fight, but there are so many guys in the UFC more worthy of a title shot.
It takes away the legitimacy of a title shot when the champion is fighting someone other than the #1 contender...let alone someone who isn't even in the top 5.
I have trouble determining Dana1 from Dana 2 on a regular basis. He might be skitszo
This version of Dana made the right decision this time around. Hunt won't be waiting long if he keeps looking good in his next couple of fights.
Jones didnt just jump right in, and there is always a thing called circumstances. If anyone jumped right in it was Brock.
Or Overeem
totally! Brock was the only one that came and bashed up a few guys and the next thing we knew he was already defending his UFC title. If he would have met guys like Shane Carvin or Cain before his UFC title shot he would have probably planned his retirement or transition to WWE much sooner.
lol, yea but he never made it past the "cup"
C-mon Bruce! Overeem had been whoopin but all over the planet for the past couple of years in a few different organizations. He's been collecting belts like a beast. It just doesn't look like he's gonna get a shot at that coveted UFC title. We'll have to wait and see on that.
overeem is on an 11 fight win streak with 3 belts in different organisations and has beat some good opponents, oh and he beat mark hunt :p
... And he most likely was on a steady dose of testosterone the whole time.
jones was undefeated, and won all his last fights in dominating fashion.
Brock Lesnar come to mind?
Jones was undefeated (save for the DQ in his dismantling of Matt Mahill), had just defeated Bader (who was undefeated to that point, and also considered to be a badass). Both guys were considered to be two of the best in the division with their domination of everyone they had fought. Rashad was injured, so they needed a short notice replacement, and Jones made it through his fight unscathed. Made sense to me.
Are you SERIOUS???!!! Jones was undefeated and was finishing top competion....Mark Hunt is 7-7?! hmmm ya give this guy a title shot....ur outta ur F'N mind
It is a dream, fantasy, fun and cinderella match-up but we are have to be realistic and fair - if Overeem will be getting replaced there are others much more deserving tha Hunto to take his place.
"others much more deserving".. White said that Mir vs. Velasquez are happening for sure. Who else is much more deserving? Tell me to know please...except Alistair who is in big problem and Werdum who had smaller chances than Hunt IMO. Maybe statistically Hunt don't deserved it yet but it's a good match up.
Of course it's a good match-up but you just said yourself he doesn't really deserve it.
Well Mir and Cain are still scheduled for now but I expect Mir to get the call up if Alistair's hearing doesn't go well and frankly Mir is by far the most deserving to replace Reem.
OK for Mir, he deserves it, but maybe Hunt have more dangerous hands and stand up game for Junior, which is very very important. Maybe I'am wrong...
Hunt beats Ben Rothwell who fought with Velasquez, and Kongo who fought with Mir,Barry, Mitrione,Travis Brown....Hunt fought and win against a good fighters. IMO he can right away fight with some of top 5 and if he wins he can fight for a title? What you think?
Maybe if Hunt fought Min Soo Kim he would be in the mix?
If Hunt could actually win the title, I'd have a hard time saying the UFC HW division has evolved.
Meant to ”sharp” that comment. Everyone loves a good Rocky story. But Heavyweight Champion Mark Hunt just didn't have a very good ring to it...
I'm not sure who is "weaking" this, but come on guys...If you have a champ with limited wrestling and submission skills, with a physique that would prompt any doctor to beg him to lose weight...it absolutely means the HW division has not evolved.
Basically, you would have an overweight Champ who is absolutely not well-rounded at all.
If Mir won the title you'd have a hard time saying the division has evolved as well!
Actually Mousasi, When I first saw Brock's takedowns, I thought wow we have a HW with GSP skills, unstoppable. Then he quit using his takedowns because he became hesitant to get hit. His first few fights should have been his game plan for the UFC but he changed after his first real loss. Eventually we might see a HW with those same attributes but better striking.
i got a feeling struves gonna end all this talk anyway, since he actually has a groundgame, but if hunt beats struve, then he should get werdum, or the winner of bigfoot-nelson
If you go by Hunt's UFC record alone, then he doesn't deserve it. Of course, being the K-1 heavyweight champ should be worth something.
It should be hunt for two reasons.
1. He's the guy you can pull out of a fight and not affect the other top tier match ups. Better to throw the #9 ranked fighter against #1 and let #2 and #3 fight.
2. Other than Cain or Frank, no one has a better chance of actually beating JDS.
maybe being the champion recently might be worth something. he won the k-1 shit back in 2001..
Hunt has a mystique about him people are not used to seeing. He says very little, he was gone for like 8 yrs from MMA. Then the guy walks into the UFC and starts knocking people out. Gotta dig that!
I've always liked Hunt. Dude can strike with the best of them. He always had that puncher's chance.
It will be bad for UFC if Mark Hunt KO's JDS we all now he can KO anyone.I think Cain vs JDS is the best option the rest are not that good.Mir sucks Lesnar destroyed him.
Man, Dana really looks like a **** with ears.
*d!ck
Dana is one of them guys where you can not make your mind up if he`s a real stand up guy or a complete jack ass!
changes day to day.
and as for a challenger for the title the truth is with Overreem out the only two fighters who deserve a shot or a chance with JDS are FM and CV!
Hunt got subbed by Overeem in 1st round and has a record of 8-7 ffs Travis Browne would stand a better chance. imo