Veteran heavyweight Mark Hunt has been handed a world ranked opponent for his final UFC bout, but he would have preferred it to be someone rated above not below him.
No-one could accuse Hunt of looking for an easy option, as he prepares to have the last fight on his UFC contract on the December 2 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre,.
Hunt will fight American Justin Willis, who has won his first three UFC bouts and is ranked 15th, five places below the Sydneysider.
It's a familiar story for the celebrated 44-year-old heavy hitter, whose last two bouts were also against opponents who at the time were ranked below him, even though both ended up beating Hunt.
"I never get guys higher, every time I ask, I get guys that are underneath me," Hunt told AAP.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The bout is on a card headlined by fellow Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa's contest with former world champion Junior Dos Santos.
While his association with the UFC will end after the December show, Hunt is determined to fight on under another banner.
"I'll hopefully try and do about five more next year and then that's it, (I'll) retire," Hunt said.
There have been suggestions he could have a boxing bout against New Zealand's former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, though Hunt doubted that would eventuate.
'I'm pretty sure Joseph would look to try and fight some top end boxers, not a top end mixed martial artist," Hunt said.
Hunt topped Adelaide's first UFC card in May 2015, but doesn't have fond memories of his bout with Stipe Miocic, who went on to win the heavyweight title a year later.
"It was one of the worst nights of my life, it was the worst weight cut and Stipe Miocic just fixed me up," Hunt recalled.
"I think I still hold the record for the most punches to the head for that one."
Another bout on the December 2 card will feature world ranked Australian light heavyweight Tyson Pedro against former world champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua of Brazil.
Rua, who won the title in 2010 and lost it in his first defence the following year, is ranked 11th, four places above Pedro.
"It's a very exciting fight for me, I'm so happy that I got it, I asked for it and they gave it to me,' Pedro told A'AP.
Tickets for the show go on sale on October 12.
