UFC: Hunt still going strong at 41

MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter Mark Hunt at training today at City Boxing, Kingsland, Auckland. 19 August 2014 Herald on Sunday Photograph by Doug Sherring.

Fighting for a living isn't meant to be a long-term occupation.

Taking punches or kicks to the head isn't a profession for the faint-hearted and you won't find many medical minds that would advise you to pursue a career in MMA.

But despite being 41, Kiwi UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt continues to fight on and is still within striking distance of challenging for the UFC title later this year.

He got his shot at the interim strap last November but Fabricio Werdum had his number at UFC 180 in Mexico after Hunt filled in on short notice to save the main event due to an injury to champion proper Cain Velasquez. Werdum (19-5-1) will meet Velasquez (13-1) to unify the titles at UFC 188 in Mexico in June.

If Hunt (10-9-1) can beat American Stipe Miocic (12-2) in the headline bout of UFC Fight Night 65 in Adelaide on Sunday, the Super Samoan could challenge the winner of the Werdum-Velasquez stoush in November when Melbourne hosts UFC 193.

The UFC brass have waited a long time to break in to the sports-mad Melbourne market and after a state ban was lifted recently allowing MMA to take place inside a cage, the green lights have rung up for the UFC to invade.

Having local fighters at the event will help sell tickets and the UFC know there are few bigger names in this part of the world in combat sports than Hunt.

The cart is being placed well before the horse here but the possibility of Hunt challenging for the world title in Melbourne, after having his first organised fight as a kickboxer 25 years ago - the purse was a six-pack of beer - would represent one heck of a journey.

"I don't think I can look past Stipe at all," Hunt said. "He is above me in the rankings."

Miocic is at No 4 in the media-generated UFC divisional rankings, one place ahead of Hunt, and represents a big challenge this weekend given his wrestling experience and punching power.

But while Miocic is a decorated collegiate wrestler, Hunt possesses the second-best takedown defence among UFC heavyweights at 85.3 per cent.

In turn, Hunt's noted strength is his striking but Miocic has a significant striking defence percentage of 62.5, which is the fourth-best in the division.

With tomorrow's weigh-ins looming, Hunt is expected to make weight but, as is often the case, the cut hasn't been easy for him to squeeze inside the UFC's heavyweight limit of 265 pounds (120.2kg). Sunday's bout isn't a title fight, so Hunt has an extra 400g to play with and could weigh up to 266 pounds (120.6kg).

In the co-main event on Sunday, Auckland-born Australian middleweight Robert Whittaker (13-4) will take on the 14th-ranked Brad Tavares (13-3).

On the under card, Gold Coast-based New Zealander Dylan Andrews (17-6, 1 NC) will meet English middleweight Brad Scott (9-3) and Auckland featherweight Dan Hooker (11-5) will square off with Japan's Hatsu Hioki (27-8-2).

Hunt, a pioneer in combat sports given his exploits on the K-1 kickboxing circuit before he moved to MMA, said the UFC had provided a good platform for young Australian and Kiwi fighters.

"All you've got to do is fight well and fight hard and that's it. Leave the rest in the octagon," Hunt said. "There's a lot of good talent this side of the world and the door's been opened for those young men to go and make a life out of it."