UFC: Hunt motivated by rankings rather than rivalries

Mark Hunt. Photo / Getty Images

Mark Hunt is motivated by rankings rather than rivalries.

The Kiwi UFC heavyweight is in the latter stages of his lengthy combat sports career and with four fights left on his current contract, which could be his last, he only wants to take bouts that matter.

He's pegged at No 5 in the UFC's divisional rankings and believes he has what it takes to challenge heavyweight kingpin Cain Velasquez.

Hunt was knocked out by Brazil's Fabricio Werdum (19-5-1) during an interim title tilt at UFC 180 in Mexico in November after Hunt took the bout on short notice as he filled in for an injured Velasquez (13-1).

The Sydney-based Hunt offered no excuses after being busted up by Werdum and he has repositioned himself for another title run.

That starts with a meeting against the No 4-ranked Stipe Miocic in Adelaide in the main event at UFC Fight Night 65 on May 10.

"He's the No 4 in the world on paper and it gives me another chance to get up the rankings within the UFC," Hunt told the Herald.

"So I'm looking forward to locking horns with Stipe in Adelaide."

Hunt's reference to Miocic (12-2) being No 4 in the world "on paper" comes down to The Super Samoan's belief that he is better in the cage than the 32-year-old from Ohio.

"I'm above him as a fighter, for sure," Hunt said.

The bout with Miocic was confirmed this week and came as a slight surprise given Hunt agreed via social media last year to meet the sixth-ranked Josh Barnett (33-7) who has been dormant for 14 months.

Barnett beat Hunt via submission at a Pride show in 2006 and the Kiwi has long wanted a rematch but given The Warmaster sits lower than Hunt on the heavyweight totem pole, the fight doesn't appeal.

"It was [a chance] if he was above me but then I realised he was beneath me and then I said: 'Oh, nah, don't worry about it'," Hunt said.

Hunt (10-9-1) proudly boasts he has never lost a rematch.

"I'll get that guy later," Hunt said of Barnett. "Let me just try and get a title shot first and we can do our dance later on."

Miocic is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Junior dos Santos (17-3) in December where he showed an impressive striking display against the former champion despite the defeat.

After having a three-week build-up to his bout with Werdum, Hunt was excited about the prospect of having a full training camp this time around.

He will return to New Zealand next month where he will link with ground specialist Steve Oliver, striking coach Lolo Heimuli and fitness guru Alex Flint.

"The only interesting thing I've got coming up is training like a slave then getting back to punching people's lips," Hunt said.

The 40-year-old, who often battles to make the UFC's heavyweight limit of 120.6kg, tipped the scales at 132kg this week and said his weight wouldn't be an issue during this camp.

In the co-main event at UFC Fight Night 65 in Adelaide, Kiwi-born Australian middleweight Robert Whittaker (13-4) will meet the No 15-ranked Brad Tavares (13-3), while Gold Coast-based New Zealander Dylan Andrews (17-6, 1NC) will fight England's Bradley Scott (9-3) in a middleweight stoush.