Mark Hunt wants redemption against the former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Junior Dos Santos.
Back in 2013, Junior Dos Santos had just lost his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight title at the hands of Cain Velasquez, while K-1 legend Mark Hunt was on a career best winning streak having defeated four straight opponents inside the Octagon.
As unlikely as it may have seemed only a few years prior, UFC brass slated Hunt to battle “JDS” in the co-main event of UFC 160, with the winner earning a Heavyweight title shot.
What transpired was one of the most thrilling bouts in UFC history, as Hunt and Dos Santos slugged it out for for nearly 15 full minutes, giving fight fans everything they had dreamed of and more in a truly sensational battle.
With the clock waning in the final round, the former Heavyweight king pulled off a jaw-dropping spinning wheel kick that completely knocked out Hunt in stunning and violent fashion.
The sudden ferocity of the finish was the absolutely perfect cap on what was a “Fight of the Night” performance from both men, and sealed the battle as an instant classic.
Fast forward two years later, and Dos Santos and Hunt could once again be on a collision course.
At UFC Fight Night 86 this past Sunday (April 10, 2016), “Cigano” pulled off a much needed victory, completely dominating the streaking Ben Rothwell en route to a 50-45 unanimous decision win that proved he still a lot left in the gas tank.
Check out the highlights here.
With the “Super Samoan” just over two weeks removed from his impressive knockout over former Heavyweight kingpin Frank Mir, Hunt took the opportunity last night to call out Dos Santos for a rematch on Twitter:
@danawhite @ufc @junior_cigano let’s do it Dana would love a rematch
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) April 10, 2016
While Dos Santos has yet to respond to Hunt’s request, it’s difficult to imagine this fight doesn’t happen sometime in the following months.
With most of the top ranked Heavyweights currently scheduled or recently fighting in the last handful of events, the timing for a potential rematch between the two behemoths seems impeccable.
Considering UFC brass’ penchant for putting together rematches as of late, I find it unlikely they would avoid what could very well be another “Fight of the Night” classic between Dos Santos and Hunt.
For complete UFC Fight Night 86: “Rothwell vs. Dos Santos” results and play-by-play, click here!