As expected, Mark Hunt and Roy Nelson are slated to tangle in Japan later this year.
According to sources with knowledge of the situation, both fighters have agreed to the heavyweight fight, and it is expected to be officially announced by the UFC shortly. The fight Hunt recently dubbed as the “battle of the bulge,” is expected to headline UFC Fight Night 51 on Sept. 20 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Hunt (9-8-1) hasn’t fought since his Fight of the Year candidate against Antonio Silva in December. That fight, which was originally scored a draw for both men, was changed to a no contest for Silva only after he failed a post-fight drug test. Hunt broke his right hand in two places, which sidelined him for months.
Nelson (20-9) snapped a two-fight losing streak last month when he knocked out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the first round.
“That was amazing,” Hunt said on a recent episode of The MMA Hour of Nelson’s knockout of Nogueira. “He’s got a bomb in that hand, Dan Henderson power. It’s crazy.
“The question is: can he withstand [my power]? Honestly, the thing is we’re both heavyweights, anything could happen to anyone. It’s lights out. It’s who lands it, who gets you.”
While this will mark Hunt’s 14th MMA fight in Japan, Nelson will be making his debut in the “Land of the Rising Sun.”
The promotion has yet to officially announce any fights on the card.