Australian-based MMA fighter Mark Hunt has suffered a second round loss to Brazil's Fabricio Werdum in their battle for the UFC interim heavyweight title in Mexico City.
Former jiu-jitsu world champion Werdum (19-5-1) got off to a slow start, but hit Hunt with a right knee to the face to secure the TKO win in the UFC's debut in Mexico.
The event was supposed to be a showcase for Cain Velasquez, the Mexican-American champion who has a strong following in Mexico.
Instead, the oft-injured Velasquez hurt his right knee and dropped out of his bout against Werdum last month, sending the UFC scrambling for something to show the 21,000 fans who sold out the Arena Cuidad de Mexico in eight hours.
Former kick-boxer Hunt (10-9-1), a 40-year-old New Zealand brawler of Samoan descent with a history of thrilling fights, stepped in, but was unable to keep up with his Brazilian opponent.
Hunt got the call from the UFC one month after he stopped Roy Nelson in Japan for his fifth win in seven fights, losing only to former UFC champion Junior Dos Santos in that stretch.
But Hunt was unable to continue his run.
"I didn't see that one coming," Hunt said of the knee that ended the fight.
