Mark Hunt will go toe-to-toe with Fabricio Werdum for the UFC interim heavyweight title this weekend. The Super Samoan has played down the importance of the interim belt and revealed he’s not afraid of facing anyone inside the Octagon. not even King Kong or Godzilla.
Mark Hunt spoke to MMA Junkie ahead of his bout with Fabricio Werdum at UFC 180 in Mexico this weekend. The Kiwi knockout artist admitted that he doesn’t pay much heed to the fact that the interim heavyweight title is going on the line. In his eyes, there is only one UFC heavyweight champion.
The only champion around these days in the heavyweight division is Cain (Velasquez). If you want to be the champ, you’ve got to beat the champ. This right here is a fight for the No. 1 contender. I don’t look at this as the world title; I look at this as the spot to fight the best.
It wouldn’t sit right with me if I had that belt around my waist and called myself the world champion. I can’t call myself the champion of the world in mixed martial arts unless I beat the champion of the world. Who is the champion of the world at the moment? Cain Velasquez.
Werdum is arguably a more well-rounded fighter than Hunt. The Brazilian is considered to be one of the most elite grapplers and submission specialists in the division. He has also improved his striking capabilities in recent bouts which is yet another string added to his extremely frightening-looking bow.
However, Hunt confessed that he is not fearful of facing anyone inside the Octagon. With Hunt packing some of the biggest knockout power in combat sports, he knows there’s a certain inevitability when fighters try to take him on
They can be King Kong, Godzilla or whatever – I don’t care what they have.
Once you get a punch in the face or a knee in the head, all of those skills are gone. That’s the answer for all these plans and everything: just a swift kick to the lips.
While Godzilla has a surprisingly poor reach for a monstrous reptilian, we think the giant prehistoric ape might be one of the few creatures that packs more of a punch than the Super Samoan.
UFC 180: Werdum vs Hunt kicks off this Sunday 16 November from 3 am.
Hat-tip to MMA Junkie
