Sometimes, you find yourself in a pretty good spot. You know it might not break your way, but even if it doesn’t, you’re no worse off for the ordeal than you are sitting here, right now, today.
Chances are, if you sat down with Mark Hunt and asked him about his experience in Mexico at UFC 180, he would tell you something pretty close to that.
Prior to Saturday, the last time the world saw Hunt, he was scoring a devastating knockout of long un-knockout-able stalwart Roy Nelson. After that, he retired to his home to get heavy and await another call from the UFC.
That call came quicker than he anticipated and with higher stakes than he likely imagined: He was going to fight for the interim heavyweight title against Fabricio Werdum.
The dubious nature of an interim title notwithstanding, that’s a great haul for a guy who made his UFC debut losing to Sean McCorkle not that long ago.
Show up, make weight, potentially become a UFC titleholder.
And even if he lost, what would it mean? He’d be a warrior who stepped up on short notice to fight one of the best heavies on Earth, and it didn’t break his way. He’d probably hold in the rankings and in credibility and go home just as he did after the Nelson fight to await his next challenge.
Well, that’s what happened.
After a stellar first round that anyone would have scored 10-9 for Hunt, he continued to look strong in the second before a flying knee caught him flush and put him on the canvas. It was a beautiful piece of violence from Werdum—one that married timing and technique expertly and got a much-deserved result.
And, aside from a headache, it didn’t mean anything to Hunt.
He was fighting on short notice after coming from the other side of the world. He was a massive betting underdog. He didn’t even have time to spar in camp. He was basically supposed to lose.
In terms of no-lose losses, this one pretty much wrote the book.
No great competitor wants to lose, and mixed martial artists are among the ultimate competitors in professional sports. They would have to be in order to face down the peril they do in their business. But if you have to lose, UFC 180 is an all right way for it to happen if you’re Hunt.
People still love him for his style and attitude and revere him for his skill, and everyone knew the uphill battle he was facing. No one in the sport thinks less of him for losing, and it’s a rare thing that a guy getting stopped by a flying knee is given that kind of liberty from fans.
He’s still a Top Five heavyweight, a fan favorite and a beloved warrior. He’s still a title contender, even after suffering a vicious stoppage on a landmark card launching a new major market for the UFC.
It’s easy to see how UFC 180 was the ultimate no-lose situation for Hunt.
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