The legend of Mark Hunt Actually improved

NunoBernie

NunoBernie

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I have to be honest: I didn't expect Hunt to last 3 rounds. I hoped he would, but chances were slim.

Everyone seems to be talking about him getting knocked out, but...I think he improved his status as far as iron chins go just by the sheer amount of bombs he absorbed and got up. The first thunderous right hand JDS connected would turn the lights out of ANY other fighter, I'd bet on it. Hunt recovered relatively fast.

He absorbed quite a few more, even if the first one was the most powerful by far.
The kick killed him, not because of the power (it didn't land clean) but because it was unexpected. He never saw it coming and what you can't see usually hurts the most.
He managed to keep JDS at bay for most of the time, a clear sign he (intelligently) respected the former K1 champ. He even hurt the brazilian in the second round, which led to Junior bringing the fight to the ground, something he rarely does.

Hunt himself admitted that JDS was too slick for him, but I think his legend didn't get tarnished by this (expected) defeat.
Hunt reached where he could reach. JDS and Cain are too much for him, nothing to be ashamed of.
 
Credit is due to Hunt for being dangerous enough to make JDS cautious every single second of the fight. It was one of JDS toughest fights to date.
 
YoungBoyd said:
Credit is due to Hunt for being dangerous enough to make JDS cautious every single second of the fight. It was one of JDS toughest fights to date.
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I think that, too.
Huge credit to JDS for not taking it lightly, when he was unanimously picked as the winner. He knew that Hunt could end it at any moment and acted accordingly.

I think both fighters left the octagon with increased reputation.
 
Incredible run Hunt has had in the UFC so far. Every win was huge in that the UFC didn't want him to fight in the octagon whatsoever. And who would have thought he would go to the 3rd round with JDS, he did some damage as well. Hope we see him stick around for a while.
 
Considering where he was a few years back and that he is now 39 it is pretty incredible just how far he not only bounced back but climbed the ladder.
 
Davey J said:
Incredible run Hunt has had in the UFC so far. Every win was huge in that the UFC didn't want him to fight in the octagon whatsoever. And who would have thought he would go to the 3rd round with JDS, he did some damage as well. Hope we see him stick around for a while.
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Hope he doesn't get demoralized by the defeat and gets on a downward spiral.
He still has quite a few opponents worth beating. ;)
 
I'm a Hunt fan. I like how he lands his left hook against much taller fighters. It's just that JDS is an awesome striker.
 
I hope that this performance keeps Hunt relevant for a while. I think he could actually gain some confidence and experience from this loss, as strange as it seems (for such an experienced fighter). There's only a handful of HW's that could beat Hunt. Would love to see Hunt fight Mir but I fear the jujitsu.
 
Hunt is the only person in the UFC, with Cain, who put up a fight against Dos Santos. Everyone else just got completely destroyed.
 
He got thrashed and knocked out in highlight fashion. This was a wake-up call for Mark Hunt fans. He will smash the bottom feeders of the UFC but anyone else is gonna beat him up, be it technically or with power. JDS did both.
 
Hunt & big Nog has the best "chins" in the sport for a while, but age & punishment will wear that away over time. In his prime, he'd have eaten every one of those punches & kicks for breakfast, then went back for seconds. Time doesn't improve durability, and that was one of Hunt's greatest weapons (which he's been through WAY more wars than Junior, and being 10 years older doesn't help either.)

Hunt has been a legend to me from the K1 days, so his MMA fights were just bonus. Junior is a beast, and seems to be an awesome guy, so if there's anyone I don't mind him losing to, it's him.
 
The Editing said:
He got thrashed and knocked out in highlight fashion. This was a wake-up call for Mark Hunt fans. He will smash the bottom feeders of the UFC but anyone else is gonna beat him up, be it technically or with power. JDS did both.
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He put on a great fight against JDS, no one, except Cain, did that. JDS is just a level above everything else. There isn't a man in the UFC who'd outstrike Hunt except JDS.
 
JuRAYsic Park said:
He put on a great fight against JDS, no one, except Cain, did that. JDS is just a level above everything else. There isn't a man in the UFC who'd outstrike Hunt except JDS.
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Look, I thought he showed a lot of heart in that fight and he did better than I thought. That said, aside from winging power punches and hoping they hit (which I think one did and JDS shrugged it off) he did nothing. This was a massive reality check. He isn't elite, he isn't really near elite.
 
I hope people don't forget that he took this fight without a full camp, with VISA issues, and ultimately got to the US a couple days before the fight instead of two weeks early like he wanted. He did great and if he can string together some more wins, I'd like to see him take on JDS again.
 
The Editing said:
Look, I thought he showed a lot of heart in that fight and he did better than I thought. That said, aside from winging power punches and hoping they hit (which I think one did and JDS shrugged it off) he did nothing. This was a massive reality check. He isn't elite, he isn't really near elite.
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I think you need a reality check. He went to war with JDS and actually had him hurt and against the cage. No one did that except Cain. Hunt's basically the only guy who put up a fight against JDS, once again, with the exception of Cain.
 
The Editing said:
Look, I thought he showed a lot of heart in that fight and he did better than I thought. That said, aside from winging power punches and hoping they hit (which I think one did and JDS shrugged it off) he did nothing. This was a massive reality check. He isn't elite, he isn't really near elite.
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I don't think many Hunt fans thought he was elite anymore or that he would beat JDS.
He certainly is not top 5 material.
But, even so, he can beat anyone not called JDS or Cain. Even if he is NOT a better fighter.

So, I wouldn't call reality check. More of a dream finally ending.
 
The Editing said:
Look, I thought he showed a lot of heart in that fight and he did better than I thought. That said, aside from winging power punches and hoping they hit (which I think one did and JDS shrugged it off) he did nothing. This was a massive reality check. He isn't elite, he isn't really near elite.
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LOL... he's 39, still fighting for the love of the sport. He's easily STILL one of the best HW's in the sport (which is a secondary sport to him!); yet he's still up there with the best of the best (and he's 10+ years older than them).

So after all that, just think about what he could have done in his prime. And if you cant, then maybe a history lesson is advised.
 
Don't forget Nelson gave JDS a fight, mostly due to his amazing chin.
 
leglace said:
Don't forget Nelson gave JDS a fight, mostly due to his amazing chin.
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Well, I don't know about that. He was basically a punching bag for the whole fight.
I don't recall him getting JDS in trouble or JDS being ultra-careful for almost 3 rounds.
 
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