In December 2013, Mark Hunt and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva battled in one of the all-time great UFC heavyweight fights. The two went toe-to-toe in a slugfest that ended up in a majority draw. It took nearly two years to run it back.
Both men have lost twice since then, and each of those four losses comes by way of KO or TKO. Yet they have kept themselves in the top 15 of the division. Hunt entered as the No. 8-ranked contender, and Bigfoot came in ranked No. 11.
Bigfoot circled on the outside for the opening minute as Hunt controlled the center of the cage. It was a feeling-out process after their violent first meeting. Hunt landed two strong kicks in the first half of the round, one to the leg and one to the body. Bigfoot took them well, but they made sickening sounds.
Under two minutes to go they started to open up, and that was all Hunt needed.
Hunt dropped Bigfoot and cleaned up the work on the mat. The “Super Samoan” has scary power, and Silva has suffered numerous knockouts recently.
What did it? A right hand above the ear. Bigfoot collapsed.
This was a big win for Hunt. He was taken to task by Stipe Miocic, and it was a question what he would look like following that beating. He answered the call. Hunt looked to be in the best shape of his UFC career. The performance matched the physique. Brutal ending.
What’s Next for Bigfoot and Hunt?
- Hunt should be right back in the thick of things at heavyweight. He is a fan favorite, and it isn’t a deep division. A big knockout performance thrust him right back toward the top.
- Bigfoot’s time as a fighter may be coming to an end. There are only so many knockouts a fighter can take. Will he retire? Would the UFC keep him around if he chose to keep going? Those questions will be answered in the future, but I don’t think many associated with MMA want to see him to continue to take more unnecessary punishment.
- A rematch with Ben Rothwell makes sense for Hunt. Hunt won their previous fight by decision, and both men are a couple fights away from a title shot. That fight could send the winner to a title eliminator. But the UFC has options with Hunt. There aren’t many heavyweights fans wouldn’t tune in to watch against the “Super Samoan.”
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