Ronda Rousey wants UFC fans to know Mark Hunt is one tough hombre and that his original fight against Antonio `Bigfoot' Silva is a reason to get behind the `Super Samoan.'
Rousey actually became a Hunt fan because of that fight.
"I've known Mark Hunt for years and he really, really won me over with the first fight between him and Bigfoot was amazing ... he broke his hand at the start and was throwing elbows all the time, that's just such a `G-Money' move," Rousey said.
"You can't help but respect him."
Hunt won that fight by a rare majority draw decision - with two judges scoring it 47-all while one gave it 48-47 to Hunt - as the two slugged it out in what many regard as the best heavyweight bout in the history of the UFC.
At the time UFC president Dana White was busy losing it on Twitter over the battle in Brisbane: "Both Hunt and Silva win FON and both get their win bonus and I might buy them both their own private ISLANDS ! Sickest HW fight ever "
Even though White and the current biggest star in the UFC loved the fight, for Hunt it brings up memories the 41-year-old from Auckland would like to erase on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.
Hunt, who fought through a broken hand had the win soured when former training partner Silva failed a drug test.
"It was a great fight, but the only thing when we talk about the rematch is it was marred by what happened after, that's the only thing I remember about that fight, the buts," said a disappointed Hunt.
Now Hunt is looking to make new memories against a man who once said he didn't want to fight him again due to their mutual respect.
As a result Hunt has smade sure he has improved his conditioning for the bout after a tough loss to Stipe Miocic at UFC Fight Night 65.
"The one with Stipe was hard," Hunt said.
"I got beaten up. I beat myself. I lost that fight. It was hard, (and) that's why I had to (make) some changes. It was me.
"I had to lose like 10 kilograms the day of the weigh-ins, so that wasn't good. It's not good for anybody. I'm not doing that again. It's not happening again.
"I am ready to go three, five, ten rounds, I am ready however long it goes.
"I respect Bigfoot as I respect all the fighters and I am going to give him my full respect on Sunday."
Whether that amounts to a win and what the future holds, Hunt admits is anyone's guess, but he is hoping to set tongues wagging for all the right reasons.
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