Mark Hunt may be 51 but he hasn’t lost his warrior spirit. Or he needs a paycheck. Either way, the former UFC heavyweight superstar, who cemented his legacy as a fierce knockout artist back in his day, is in talks to make his bare-knuckle debut at the BKFC. And if things work out well, he may find himself being a part owner of the promotion, just like Conor McGregor. Of course, Hunt has no chance of getting a job in the UFC.
The heavyweight tried and failed suing the UFC for fraud, battery, and conspiracy over his UFC 200 clash with Brock Lesnar, where the WWE superstar failed drug tests before and after the fight. But a Nevada judge dismissed the lawsuit a couple of years ago.
Speaking to ‘From The Stands’ in an interview, the Aussie talked in length about what is going on between him and the BKFC. “I haven’t been in talks, I’ve just been speaking with Gabriel who’s a good friend of mine. And, you know, I did say to him I wanted to be a silent partner in this whole scenario. But, you know, we’ll see where talks go from there. I just finished my lawsuit, I’m just waiting for it to be mandated into law and then, you know, be part of this. But like I said for me to walk out… in that stadium. I’ll be 51, it would be something amazing for me,” he said.
“And, you know, to end on that note in the career, you know. Not only being a part owner of the BKFC, but you know, being one of the wealthiest… fighter in history ever. And that, you know, that alone tells you something about the kind of person I am. I wouldn’t have to fight ever again, but, you know, like I said I’m modern day gladiator,” ‘WarHunt’ added.
MMA: UFC 209-Hunt vs Overeem, Mar 4, 2017 Las Vegas, NV, USA Mark Hunt blue gloves looks on against Alistair Overeem not pictured during their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Overeem won via third round KO. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports, 04.03.2017 19:15:40, 9918333, T-Mobile Arena, Mark Hunt, KO, Alistair Overeem, MMA PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJoexCamporealex 9918333
Hunt, of course, had called out newly crowned BKFC heavyweight champ in January, Ben Rothwell, and the champ is totally on board! “Yeah, let’s do it. You think I’m going to say no? Let’s f—— go motherf—–. Let’s knuckle up,” Rothwell said in a press conference when asked about the Aussie’s challenge. And it seems the BKFC is in luck as a UFC insider has claimed that the biggest MMA superstar of them all may be looking to jump ship– at least temporarily.
Chael Sonnen claims Conor McGregor ‘green lit’ to fight at the BKFC
“If you think I’m up here giving these speeches and leading these men into battle and I won’t step in there myself, think again. For sure. Conor McGregor will fight in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship — mark my words,” Conor McGregor declared with the gusto and theater only he is capable of.
But almost no one took him seriously. After all, the Irishman is signed to the UFC and has two fights left on his contract. There is no way he could fight at the BKFC. Unless Dana White allows him to do so. And guess what? According to company man Chael Sonnen, that is exactly what the UFC CEO has done.
“I just got a call from a very very inside source. Now this might be all over the websites already, maybe you guys know this. I’m driving, I just got a call, I haven’t seen it anywhere- Conor McGregor has been green-lit to compete in bare-knuckle fighting,” ‘Uncle Chael’ said in a video on his YouTube channel last week. Now there hasn’t been any other source confirming this, but things may be going on behind the scenes that we do not know about. Or maybe Sonnen’s ‘source’ is totally mistaken. Unfortunately, we can’t do anything but wait for more reporting on this or word from the UFC to find out whether or not it is true. Nevertheless, Hunt aims to emulate the Irishman with his desires for BKFC. What do you think about Mark Hunt’s revelations about his ‘talks’ with the BKFC?
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