Mark Hunt reflects on past eight years: ‘The UFC dream is gone’

Mark Hunt remains one of the most entertaining fighters on the planet, but the heavyweight knockout artist is ready to step away from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and test his luck somewhere else.

After losing his last two Octagon appearances, including a submission defeat to Aleksei Oleinik earlier this month at UFC Moscow, Hunt doesn’t even know if the promotion would have him back after his current contract expires.

“To be honest it’s not even on my radar,” Hunt told The New Zealand Herald about potentially re-signing with UFC.

“I lost the last fight, who would want to give me another contract with the UFC? I certainly won’t expect one.”

With one fight left on his current deal, the 44-year-old has agreed to fight rising heavyweight prospect Justin Willis at UFC Fight Night 142 on Dec. 2 in Adelaide, Australia. It will presumably be Hunt’s last Octagon appearance, especially since “Super Samoan” already has plans to fight globally before his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA).

To this point, Hunt’s UFC career has been anything but predictable. The power puncher has produced an average 8-7-1 (1 NC) record since entering the promotion back in 2010 after Zuffa bought out Japan’s Pride Fighting Championship. Hunt does hold key victories over notable heavyweights like Frank Mir, Antonio Silva, Derrick Lewis, Stefan Struve and Roy Nelson, but he hasn’t won more than two fights in a row since 2012.

Eight years, seven knockout wins, one lost title fight, and one sticky court case later, Hunt is on the cusp of leaving UFC for good.

“The UFC dream is gone,” said Hunt. “Now it’s time for something bigger and better.”

While both sides seem ready to move on, things do change. If Hunt is able to impressively finish Willis two months from now in front of his home crowd maybe the promotion would want him back for another run at UFC gold.