UFC: Neither draws first blood

Mark Hunt hits Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva with an elbow due to injuring his hands during yesterday's clash. Photo / Getty Images

Count on seeing a re-match between New Zealand UFC fighter Mark Hunt and Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva - and there's a good chance it will take place in Australia next year.

After the two heavyweights fought out a barbaric majority draw in the main event of UFC Fight Night 33 in Brisbane yesterday, the obvious thought was another bout to split the pair.

After the blood had dried on the canvas, Hunt was ahead 48-47 on one card but the other two judges scored it 47-47 after they gave Hunt the fifth and final round 10-8.

There was a pulsating atmosphere from 11,393 fans at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre as the UFC made its first appearance in Queensland's capital.

Neither Silva nor Hunt were able to attend the post-fight press conference as both were taken to hospital for examination. Hunt posted a video to Twitter after the bout saying he had a "cracked face, broken hands".

UFC's director of operations for Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Tom Wright, said after the fight that Hunt and Silva could meet again next year. Fighting in a cage is banned in Western Australia and Victoria but moves are afoot for that to change in Victoria in the near future. Melbourne would be an ideal destination.

"Wouldn't it be great to have the rematch of the heavyweights at Etihad [Stadium], that would be a good show," Wright said.

After two brutal opening rounds yesterday, Hunt floored Silva in the third with a vicious right hand to the face and it looked like he may have delivered another one of his signature walkaway knockouts.

But Silva's strong ground defence allowed him to survive until the end of the round and, with Silva on top in the fourth, it looked like he may take the fight.

The fifth was a war as both fighters stood and traded blows with Hunt having to resort to throwing elbows - something he rarely does - given the pain shooting through his damaged hands.

With blood streaming from his face, Silva looked out on his feet but Hunt couldn't find a late knockout to steal it.

There was a brief interim in the fifth as referee Steve Perceval ordered that Silva be inspected by the fight doctor.

The stoppage gave Silva crucial time to recover but Wright said he had no issues with the decision.

"Any time the referee wants to bring a doctor in to look at something like that, I have no problems with that," Wright said. "First and foremost, health and safety of the fighters is our priority and at that stage that was their opinion and you've got to respect that."

Unsurprisingly, the bout was given Fight of the Night honours - earning each man an extra US$50,000 ($60,364) - and despite the draw, both were given their win bonuses by the UFC. The result moved Hunt to 9-8-1 for his MMA career, while Silva now sports a 18-5-1 record.

Hunt's blockbusting performance was the best of the Kiwi fighters, who otherwise experienced a tough day in Brisbane.

Sydney-based light heavyweight James Te Huna was knocked out early in the first round of the co-main event by Brazilian veteran Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua with a left hook that earned the 'Knockout of the Night' gong. Te Huna was one of eight fighters who went to hospital for inspection as he was left to ponder his second loss in a row.

Gold Coast-domiciled Kiwi middleweight Dylan Andrews, who also went to the medical ward, was forced to retire after two rounds following a dislocated shoulder, which he put out trying to throw a booming right hand in the second.

Andrews' inability to come out for a third and final round gave his bout by way of TKO to American Clint Hester and it was a sad way for the fight to end after an even first two rounds.

*Daniel Richardson was a guest of Brisbane Marketing and Tourism Events Queensland