A day after UFC president Dana White said Hunt turned down a fight against Junior dos Santos at UFC 160, “The Super Samoan” got the fight he wanted following a phone conversation with White Thursday night.
As a result, Hunt will now meet dos Santos on May 25 in Las Vegas. White confirmed the news with MMAFighting.com Saturday morning.
An opening presented itself for Hunt after Alistair Overeem pulled out of the fight due to a quadriceps injury. Immediately after the Overeem news broke, Hunt told MMAFighting.com that he was willing and ready to fight dos Santos later this year.
Hunt (9-7) enters the bout riding a four-fight winning streak following his knockout of Stefan Struve last Saturday night, while dos Santos (15-2) is coming off a heavyweight title loss to Cain Velasquez in December.
UFC 160, headlined by Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva 2, will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Hunt vs. dos Santos will serve as the co-main event.