UFC: Hunt hoping for Sydney appearance

Kiwi fighter Mark Hunt knocked out American Roy 'Big Country' Nelson at UFC Fight Night 52. Photo / Getty

Mark Hunt wants to be on the UFC Fight Night 55 card in Sydney on November 8, although the list of potential opponents is slim.

The 40-year-old heavyweight knocked out Roy 'Big Country' Nelson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 52 at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan last night.

Hunt delivered a perfectly-timed right uppercut that laid Nelson out in the second round and the Super Samoan said he came through the bout without any ailments.

"I feel pretty good; no injuries and hopefully I can get on the Sydney card," Hunt said in the post-fight press conference.

The problem for the sixth-ranked Hunt is most fighters in the top 10 of the UFC's heavyweight division are booked for fight engagements in the coming months.

Hunt is based in Sydney and is hugely popular across the Tasman where he has lived for many years and would be a huge drawcard at an event that already promises to be explosive.

UFC Fight Night 55 will be headlined by middleweight contenders Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping.

If Hunt wants to fight in his adopted hometown he may have to take on a wildcard opponent and the Kiwi said that wouldn't be an issue.

"Fighting someone outside the top 10, win or lose it makes me go backwards," Hunt said. "But of course I'd consider fighting someone outside the top 10, if it's in Sydney."

One man who could fill the void would be the fifth-ranked Josh Barnett who beat Hunt in the now-defunct Pride promotion in 2006.

Hunt has stated he would love rematches against anybody who had beaten him in the past and Barnett hasn't been seen in the UFC since he lost via knockout against Travis Browne late last year.

A match-up between Hunt and Barnett would be a monumental co-main event for Sydney but there's a chance the UFC may keep Hunt on ice until 2015 when he could headline a card.

"I want to move forward," Hunt continued. "I want to move up in the rankings. I want to get a title shot. My purpose is to fight for a title."

Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will defend his belt against Fabricio Werdum at UFC 180 in November.

Hunt's victory over Nelson earned him a US$50,000 'performance of the night' bonus, which marked his fifth post-fight bonus from eight bouts in the UFC.

"My plan was only just to go and put Roy Nelson out," Hunt said.

Hunt moved to 10-8-1 for his MMA career, while the fight marked only the second time Nelson (20-10) had lost via knockout.

Earlier in the night, Auckland featherweight Dan Hooker lost to Maximo Blanco by unanimous decision but showed incredible toughness.

The 24-year-old was edged by Blanco in an all-out striking battle where Hooker ate numerous clean shots, particularly in the early rounds, in his second UFC appearance.

Hooker, who had a nasty cut around his right eye, rallied in the third frame and stunned Blanco with a few combinations of his own but he wasn't able to find the finish he needed as all three judges scored the bout 29-28 in favour of the Venezuelan.

The loss dropped Hooker to 11-5 for his MMA career, while Blanco improved to 11-6-1, 1NC.