For the first time in UFC history, the company will travel to Brisbane, Australia for Friday night’s UFC Fight Night 33.
The nationally televised show will feature an exciting main event between Mark Hunt (9-8) and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (18-5). Both men are coming off knockout losses at UFC 160 and will be looking for a dominant win to re-enter the heavyweight title picture.
With a card full of quality fights, this is the kind of secondary show that the UFC needs to continue building excitement for the key pay-per-view events. Here is all the vital viewing information MMA fans need to enjoy Friday’s event.
Where: Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
When: Friday, Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. ET
Watch: Fox Sports 1
Live Stream: Fox Sports Live
Main Event Preview and Prediction
On paper, the main event between Silva and Hunt is not the flashy matchup UFC fans were hoping for. In reality, though, both of these men are fighting for their careers, and the in-ring competition has the earmarks of becoming a brutal battle.
This fight will end in a TKO. Guaranteed.
As well as Hunt was fighting heading into his bout with former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos—he had won four consecutive matchups—the devastating knockout loss in the biggest challenge of his career will be a blow the 39-year-old doesn’t overcome.
While Silva is coming off a loss of his own, it came against the greatest fighter in the sport today, UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. Bigfoot’s two previous knockout wins over Travis Browne and Alistair Overeem indicate that he is still one of the most dangerous strikers in the division.
Silva will have the chance to prove he has plenty of fight left in the tank by taking down a bona fide tough guy like Hunt in front of his home crowd. If Bigfoot can overcome the odds once again by using his heavy striking and ground attack, his ascension back to the heavyweight title scene will begin.
The former No. 1 contender would likely have to amass another main event victory before earning another shot at Velasquez and the heavyweight title, but the road back to the top runs through Hunt.
Before Silva looks too far ahead, he must take down Friday’s challenger first.
Predicted Winner: Antonio Silva via second-round TKO.
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