In the co-main event of Saturday night’s UFC 160 pay-per-view (May 25), former heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos will look to avenge his previous loss against Cain Velasquez by beating veteran journeyman Mark Hunt.
This fight was originally scheduled to be Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem, but after Overeem suffered a quadriceps injury, UFC president Dana White added the red-hot Hunt to the co-main event instead of postponing the fight altogether.
While Dos Santos is coming off a loss, Hunt has won each of his last four fights, including two huge TKO victories over Stefan Struve and Cheick Kongo. There is little doubt that Dos Santos will be the favorite, but Hunt is as serious a threat now as he has ever been.
Saturday’s fight will be an absolute brawl, and this is how it all breaks down.
Junior Dos Santos’ Keys to Victory
After the most devastating loss of his MMA career to Velasquez—the former champion lost the heavyweight title at UFC 155 via decision—Junior Dos Santos is looking for redemption at the price of Mark Hunt.
Hunt is a talented striker with serious power, but Dos Santos is the best boxer in the heavyweight division and has very heavy hands of his own. The Brazilian star has a unique mixture of speed and power with his punches. With 11 of his 15 victories coming via TKO or KO, his strength is undeniable.
If anyone can match Hunt’s raw destructive ability in the Octagon, it’s Dos Santos.
Where Dos Santos’ biggest advantage comes from is his ability to submit his opponents using his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Hunt has proven susceptible to submissions over the years—six of his seven losses have come via submission—and that should be Dos Santos’ focus throughout the fight.
Dos Santos’ power is so overwhelming that he hasn’t been able to use his submission skills, but to avoid the heavy hands of Hunt, the Brazilian’s game plan should be to take his opponent to the ground and strike until a submission opportunity opens up.
If the former champion wants his belt back, he must make quick work of Hunt and not underestimate the talented fighter.
Mark Hunt’s Keys to Victory
Mark Hunt is a veteran of fighting sports—a kickboxer as well as a mixed martial artist—but at 39 years old and holding a career 9-7 record in MMA, this could be the New Zealander’s last chance at mainstream glory.
After accepting the offer to fill in for Overeem, Hunt was almost forced to pull out of the event because of a work-visa issue in his home country, but Hunt shared on Twitter that he has been cleared to travel and will fight Dos Santos in the co-main event.
Hunt has fought some of the toughest men in the world—Fedor Emelianenko, Overeem and others—but he will need all of the lessons learned throughout his career to be able to handle the toughness of a fighter in his prime like Dos Santos.
While Dos Santos has the clear speed and stamina advantages, the power of Hunt is almost unparalleled by anyone in MMA today. This is a Samoan bruiser with one of the heaviest punches fight fans will ever see.
Hunt is the underdog, but if he can land consecutive punches on Dos Santos, there is little doubt that the challenger could knock the favorite out and beat him.
Velasquez beat Dos Santos and Hunt will believe that he can as well.
Prediction: Junior Dos Santos via Submission
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