Tag: Mark Hunt

Leaked texts reveals Dana White asked ex-UFC executive to ‘Bury’ former title challenger Mark Hunt amid feud

Leaked texts reveal Dana White asked UFC CEO to bury Mark Hunt amid lawsuitIn more leaked text message exchanges between current UFC CEO, Dana White, and ex-CEO, Lorenzo Fertitta, the former urged…

Leaked texts reveal Dana White asked UFC CEO to bury Mark Hunt amid lawsuit

In more leaked text message exchanges between current UFC CEO, Dana White, and ex-CEO, Lorenzo Fertitta, the former urged the former company owner to “bury” former interim heavyweight championship challenger, Mark Hunt – amid the New Zealander’s long-standing feud with the organization.

Hunt, a former interim heavyweight championship challenger under the banner of the promotion, most recently featured at UFC Fight Night Adelaide back in 2018, dropping his third consecutive loss in the form of a unanimous decision defeat to Justin Willis. Departing the promotion after that loss, Hunt revealed that his contractual obligations with the promotion had been completed once the bout concluded.

Launching a lawsuit against the promotion amid his UFC 200 booking against former heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar, after initially dropping a decision loss to the professional wrestling star, Mark Hunt’s defeat was later overtuned to an official ‘No Contest’ after Lesnar tested positive for the banned substance, clomiphene. 

Dana White urged Lorenzo Fertitta to “bury” UFC alum, Mark Hunt

And in newly leaked message exchanges between White and the above-mentioned, Fertitta, the former called for the then-UFC CEO to “bury” former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight title challenger, Hunt – before claiming in a deposition the term “bury” was used in the context of suing the latter.

Revealed through the current anti-trust lawsuit taken against the UFC – which White has claimed has “nothing” to do with him, Bloody Elbow and revered reporter, John S. Nash obtained text exchanges with White writing to Fertitta in a text message: ‘Okay, yeah. He’s (Mark Hunt) a f*ck head. Bury that f*cker.” 

Initially landing in the UFC back in 2010, Hunt would turn in notable wins over names including Ben Rothwell, Cheick Kongo, Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson, ‘Bigfoot’ Silva, and former champion, Frank Mir.

In his most recent mixed martial arts win, Hunt headlined UFC Fight Night Auckland back in 2017, stopping fellow former title challenger, Derrick Lewis with a late fourth round knockout win in the pair’s main event tangle.

Ex-UFC Title Contender Mark Hunt Claims He was offered Millions of Dollars to Throw a Fight

Mark HuntEx-UFC heavyweight title challenger Mark Hunt claims that he was offered millions of dollars to throw a fight in…

Mark Hunt

Ex-UFC heavyweight title challenger Mark Hunt claims that he was offered millions of dollars to throw a fight in Australia.

Appearing on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Hunt was discussing his highly publicized legal issues with his former employer when he casually revealed that a fight promoter had allegedly offered him a big bag to take a dive.

“I’ve always been one for saying if things aren’t right,” Hunt explained. “…You know, I was offered three or four million dollars to take a dive in a fight here in Australia. I said, ‘Are you serious?!’ I said ‘No’ because that’s just not me… although I could have done with the money… That’s just not my character, it’s not me. I’d rather just go out with my shield and lose or die. It’s not what I’m about.”

During his eight-year run with the UFC, Hunt featured on seven cards held in The Land Down Under. Since parting ways with the promotion, ‘The Super Samoan’ has competed in two boxing matches in Australia, the first coming against Paul Gallen in December 2020. Hunt won the six-round bout via decision. He followed that up with a fourth-round TKO upset against Sonny Bill Williams.

Mark Hunt Plans to Make BKFC Debut in 2024

Mark Hunt plans to stay active in 2024, revealing that he is currently in talks with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

“I’m kind of keen on doing some bare-knuckle,” Hunt said. “I have been talking to the [BKFC] for a while ago, but we just didn’t lock down a deal. I’m keen on doing some bare-knuckle, I had a lot of messages with the champ, [Mick] Terrill, maybe we can throw our hands together somewhere.”

Hunt added that he has been in contact with BKFC founder Dave Feldman with hopes of putting a fight together for the summer.

“Dave has actually messaged me about – we’ve been speaking about a fight,” Hunt said. “Maybe in June we can sort something out, I’ll be ready to throw hands, and hopefully, I thought I’d take that [heavyweight] title in three fights fights, well, take it in one.”

Ex-champion Brock Lesnar received over $10 million for last two UFC fights reveals antitrust lawsuit

Brock Lesnar earned over $10 million for two last UFC fights reveals antitrust lawsuit documentsBrock Lesnar multi-million dollar payments from the UFC revealed as part of an on going legal battle. The UFC…

Brock Lesnar earned over $10 million for two last UFC fights reveals antitrust lawsuit documents

Brock Lesnar multi-million dollar payments from the UFC revealed as part of an on going legal battle.

The UFC recently lost an appeal to the United States appeals court in attempt to revoke the ongoing class action lawsuit that is currently being brought against the promotion. Over 1,200 fighters that competed from December 2010 and 2017 – they are seeking upwards of $1.6 billion in damages.

They claim that the UFC abused it’s power to supress wages in violation of U.S. antitrust law. With the lawsuit comes with it the unsealing of documents, which has so far resulted in fighter contracts and payments being made public.

The lawsuit has the chances of being a hugely defining news story for the UFC and MMA. The trail is set for April 2024 and the trial is set to last roughly four to five weeks, so except some interesting information and twists to come.

The case had also been fast tracked by a judge back in August after it took five-and-a-half years to resolve a class certification.

Brock Lesnar payouts revealed

Two of Former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar’s pay-outs, which totalled over $10 million. For his fight against Alistair Overeem at UFC 141, Lesnar would earn $3,000,000 and while earning $8,000,000 for his fight against Mark Hunt at UFC 200.

Lesnar is one of the biggest stars that the UFC has ever seen and brought a huge audience with him after his time spent in the WWE. The 46-year-old defeated the likes of Shane Carwin, Frank Mir and Randy Couture while winning and defending the heavyweight crown.

Details of other stars have also been released such as Khabib Nurmagomedov contract, as well as some of Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor’s pay-outs were unsealed as part of the lawsuit.

What is your favrioute moment from Brock Lesnar’s career?

Mark Hunt slams ‘Scumbag gutterdog’ Dana White following news of the UFC’s split with USADA

Mark HuntFormer UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt has been a busy man on social media following the announcement that the UFC would be parting ways with the United States Anti-Doping Agency, aka USADA, at the end of the year. Last week, USADA CEO Travis Tygart issued a statement announcing that the agency’s partnership with the UFC would […]

Mark Hunt

Former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt has been a busy man on social media following the announcement that the UFC would be parting ways with the United States Anti-Doping Agency, aka USADA, at the end of the year.

Last week, USADA CEO Travis Tygart issued a statement announcing that the agency’s partnership with the UFC would expire come December 31, 2023, bringing an end to an eight-year partnership that saw athletes tested more than 27,000 times.

Tygart’s reveal kickstarted a war of words between the UFC and USADA, but thus far, athletes have largely been in support of the split, with one glaring and frankly unsurprising exception.

One-time title challenger Mark Hunt, who has had a contentious relationship with the UFC and Dana White dating back to his July 2016 clash with Brock Lesnar at UFC 200, shared his take on the UFC’s split with USADA. And as you can imagine, the reaction was nothing short of scathing.

“I give you a year [Dana White and UFC] before you are no more,” Hunt wrote on Instagram in response to the news. “You can’t keep ripping fighters and their families off. The exodus from you criminals is already starting.”

He followed that up with another post, specifically targeting the UFC CEO.

“The only scumbag gutterdog is u worthless fkn mutt @danawhite imagine waiting for my lawsuit to end so u could try force usada to put McGregor in without testing why make rules when u dont follow them or enforce them yourself it isnt over yet boi.”

Mark Hunt is Still Holding onto His Gruge with the UFC

Mark Hunt spent the last few years in litigation with the UFC after it was revealed that his UFC 200 opponent, Brock Lesnar, had tested positive for a banned substance before their fight at the landmark event. Hunt argued that the UFC and Dana White knew of Lesnar’s failed test and kept the results hidden from the public until after the event.

The lawsuit was eventually thrown out after Hunt failed to prove the trio knowingly misled him that Lesnar would not use performance-enhancing drugs in connection with their bout and conspired to book it despite prior knowledge that Lesnar was doping.

Hunt was also ordered to pay the UFC $388,235 in reimbursement for legal fees dating back to 2017.

The ‘Super Samoan’ recently found himself in his own war of words with BJJ king Gordon Ryan after the two men took very different stances on the UFC’s breakup with USADA.

Gordon Ryan accepts Mark Hunt’s challenge to fight after brutal feud: ‘We can fight any time’

Gordon RyanAfter a vicious war of words, Gordon Ryan and Mark Hunt could potentially be gearing up for a fight to settle their newly established Twitter beef. Their disagreement centers around the UFC’s recent split from their partnership with the United States Anti-Doping Agency aka USADA. The split has been viewed by many to have been […]

Gordon Ryan

After a vicious war of words, Gordon Ryan and Mark Hunt could potentially be gearing up for a fight to settle their newly established Twitter beef.

Their disagreement centers around the UFC’s recent split from their partnership with the United States Anti-Doping Agency aka USADA. The split has been viewed by many to have been caused by USADA’s unwavering professionalism and refusal to bend the rules for fighters like Conor McGregor. McGregor hoped to make a late 2023 comeback but missed the cutoff date to complete the minimum six months required in the USADA testing pool to be cleared to fight.

It’s been rumored that Dana White expected USADA to make some sort of special exception for their superstar and allow him to come back without completing the minimum six months in the testing pool. When denied, White and the UFC refused to extend their deal with USADA and have now partnered with an obscure and lesser-known testing agency. Unsurprisingly, many are calling this move ridiculously shady and outright corrupt.

Hence the war of words between Gordon Ryan and Mark Hunt. As both fighters find themselves on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their view on the usage of performance-enhancing drugs, and the UFC’s split with USADA which is set to take effect in January of 2024.

Gordon Ryan and Mark Hunt beefing after their scathing Twitter war

“If the UFC ‘regresses’ back to the old days, this is amazing news,” Gordon Ryan said (H/T MMA Mania). “The reason people watch professional sports is almost exclusively for entertainment value.”

“Few people who watch pro sports have any real desire to excel at those same sports,” Ryan continued. “So really, they are just watching for the most entertainment. The higher the testosterone, the more physical the athletes are, the less prone to injury they are, the faster they recover, the longer they can compete, and the more entertaining and high-paced they are. The better they look, the more attention they draw, the more money they make.”

Once Mark Hunt got wind of these statements, he was not happy. Hunt is notoriously and vehemently against the usage of PED’s. So, it made sense that he took to Instagram to respond in what is now a deleted post.

“What does this idiot know about fighting,” Hunt wrote. “(Gordon Ryan) maybe have at least one proper before you talking d—khead. Maybe I should get on the sauce and stomp your face (and) see how you like it.”

Gordon Ryan responds, allegedly accepts Hunt’s challenge to fight

“If you read the post,” Ryan began. “You’d either see the validity in the arguments or offer up a decent rebuttal that was factually based. You did nothing but blabber out of your fat, miserable mouth. We can fight any time you’d like. You may very well knock me out before I get a hold of a legs, but then again, you also may not. And I’m very willing to take my chances. Miserable f—k.”

Later on, Gordon Ryan also posted to his Instagram story, saying: “Fear no one- ever. I’d bet heavily on me (by the way).”

Who do you think wins if Mark Hunt and Gordon Ryan actually threw down in an MMA fight?

Report: Mark Hunt loses lawsuit filed against the UFC, Dana White, and Brock Lesnar

Mark HuntOne-time UFC title challenger Mark Hunt has taken another L, this time in the courtroom after six long years of litigation against his former employer. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Nevada dismissed Mark Hunt’s case accusing the UFC, Brock Lesnar, and Dana White of battery, fraud, and conspiracy stemming from Hunt’s scrap at UFC […]

Mark Hunt

One-time UFC title challenger Mark Hunt has taken another L, this time in the courtroom after six long years of litigation against his former employer.

On Tuesday, a federal judge in Nevada dismissed Mark Hunt’s case accusing the UFC, Brock Lesnar, and Dana White of battery, fraud, and conspiracy stemming from Hunt’s scrap at UFC 200 on July 9, 2016, against Lesnar. Hunt initially lost the bout via unanimous decision, but the result was later overturned to a no-contest after it was revealed that the WWE Superstar had tested positive for a banned substance in pre and post-fight drug tests. The result of the pre-fight test was flagged by USADA 11 days before their bout.

Mark Hunt alleged that the promotion was made aware of Lesnar’s positive test and intentionally kept it under wraps to keep Lesnar’s name on the card. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey found that Hunt failed to prove that the trio had conspired to keep Lesnar booked despite prior knowledge that he was using performance-enhancing drugs.

“In sum, each of Hunt’s fraud theories requires far too many inferential leaps and ignores too much contrary evidence for a jury to reasonably find in his favor, particularly by clear and convincing evidence,” wrote Dorsey in a 27-page opinion, which was first reported by Conduct Detrimental writer Jason Morrin.

This is the second time that Mark Hunt has failed to score a win against the UFC in the courtroom. In 2017, the New Zealander attempted to sue the promotion, White and Lesnar for alleged racketeering, fraud, and breach of contract, among other claims. Judge Dorsey ruled against Hunt and dismissed all claims before the lawsuit was revived in 2021 via an appeals court reversal.

“I tried to make things even on the battlefield of MMA, but again, the cheating company, Dana White, UFC with all its billions, they ripped everyone off win again,” Hunt said after a 2019 ruling. “Someone will die against a steroid-using cheater, and your sh*t ripoff company will be at fault, UFC” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Mark Hunt Retired from Combat Sports Four Years Following His Final UFC Fight

Following the fight with Brock Lesnar, Mark Hunt competed five more times inside the Octagon, wrapping up his contract with the promotion in 2018 whilst his lawsuit against the company was raging on. He finished his run with the promotion dropping four of his last five.

Hunt returned to the boxing ring in 2022, scoring a fourth-round TKO against Sonny Bill Williams before walking away from combat sports altogether.

“I’m done fighting,” Hunt said in 2022. “I think I lost the passion a long time ago when I filed this lawsuit against the UFC. They took that passion away from me, to be honest. The only fight I’ve had since I left the UFC was a boxing match, [and] I couldn’t get another match anywhere. I don’t think any company would pick me up because of this lawsuit, to be honest.”