Mark Hunt 1390968 225056162 2008-07-11T17:54:30Z 80.127.43.41 {{Infobox Martial artist biography | name = Mark Hunt | image = Mark Hunt.jpg | imagesize = | caption = | birthname = Mark Richard Hunt | nickname = Super Samoan <br> The Doctor | nationality = {{flagicon|NZL}} [[New Zealander]] | dateofbirth = {{Birth date and age|1974|3|23|df=y}} | placeofbirth = [[South Auckland]], [[New Zealand]] | fightingoutof = [[Minto, New South Wales|Minto, NSW]], [[Australia]] | dateofdeath = | placeofdeath = | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}} | weightlb = | weightkg = 125 | reachin = | reachcm = | style = [[Kickboxing]] | stance = | team = Oceania Super Fighter Gym <br> Liverpool Kickboxing Gym <br> Tony Mundine Boxing Club | trainer = Hape Nganoroa <br> [[Marcelo Rezende]] <br> [[Tony Mundine (boxer)|Tony Mundine]] | yearsactive = 12 (1995-present) | boxingwins = | boxingkowins = | boxinglosses = 1 | boxingkolosses = | boxingdraws = 1 | boxingncs = | kickboxingwins = 29 | kickboxingkowins = 13 | kickboxinglosses = 12 | kickboxingkolosses = 2 | kickboxingdraws = | kickboxingncs = | mmawins = 5 | mmakowins = 3 | mmasubwins = | mmalosses = 3 | mmakolosses = | mmasublosses = 3 | mmadraws = | mmancs = | amwins = | amkowins = | amsubwins = | amlosses = | amkolosses = | amsublosses = | amdraws = | amncs = | other = | occupation = | spouse = | children = | relatives = | students = | university = | url = | boxrec = 58555 | sherdog = 10668 }} '''Mark "Super Samoan" Hunt''' (born [[March 23]], [[1974]]) is a [[New Zealand]] born [[Samoans|Samoan]] [[kickboxing|kickboxer]] and [[mixed martial arts|mixed martial artist]], currently living and fighting out of [[Sydney, Australia]]. Hunt is known for his raw strength, KO power and having one the toughest [[chin (boxing)|chins]] in the world. As a kickboxer he shocked the world on [[December 8]], [[2001]] by winning the [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2001]] Final.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pridefc.com/pride2005/index.php?mainpage=fighters&fID=185 | title="Mark Hunt Profile" | accessdate=2007-11-11 | publisher=pridefc.com }}</ref> In MMA, he holds notable wins over [[Mirko Filipovic|Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović]], [[Wanderlei Silva]] and [[Tsuyoshi Kohsaka]]. In kickboxing, he holds notable wins over [[Jerome Le Banner]], [[Francisco Filho]], [[Peter Graham]] and [[Stefan Leko]]. ==Biography== ===Early career=== Mark Hunt was born into a large, tight knit [[Samoan]] family in a tough suburb of [[South Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]. He was a troubled kid and had no intentions to be a professional fighter, until one late night altercation outside a nightclub in Auckland changed the course of his life.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pridefc.com/pride2005/index.php?mainpage=fighters&fID=185 | title="Mark Hunt Profile" | accessdate=2007-11-11 | publisher=pridefc.com }}</ref> The brawl didn’t last long, Hunt knocked out his adversary. One of the bouncers at the door was so impressed by the young man’s knockout power and invited him to Sam Marster's Gym to take up formal training.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://message.axkickboxing.com/?action=dispthread&topic=4011&junk=1014857979 | title="The Hunt is on" By Michael Schiavello | accessdate=2007-11-11 | publisher=axkickboxing.com }}</ref> A couple of weeks later in 1995 in [[Otahuhu, New Zealand]], Hunt was in the ring on his professional debut and knocked out his opponent Gary Hart in the second round.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://message.axkickboxing.com/?action=dispthread&topic=4011&junk=1014857979 | title="The Hunt is on" By Michael Schiavello | accessdate=2007-11-11 | publisher=axkickboxing.com }}</ref> Mark got a six-pack of beers as payment and the bouncer became his first [[muay thai]] coach.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.graciemag.com/?c=146&a=7035 | title="Mark Hunt: The Rock" | accessdate=2007-11-11 | publisher=graciemag.com }}</ref> Later that year Mark moved to [[Sydney, Australia]] to train with Alex Tui. Few years later he settled in Liverpool Kickboxing Gym under fellow [[Samoan]] instructor Hape Nganoroa.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dmark%2Bhunt%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501%26toggle%3D1%26cop%3Dmss%26ei%3DUTF-8&w=165&h=335&imgurl=www.muaythaionline.net%2Fimages%2Faustralia%2Fhunt_hadara2.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.muaythaionline.net%2Ffeatures%2Fmhinterview.html&size=22kB&name=hunt_hadara2.jpg&p=mark+hunt&type=jpeg&no=2&tt=11,192&oid=20821ba35f0130ca&ei=UTF-8 | title="Interview with Mark Hunt (April 2001)" | accessdate=2007-11-11 | publisher=muaythaionline.com }}</ref> ===K-1 career=== In the beginning of his career, Hunt was used by the promoters as a stepping stone for their up and coming fighters, taking up fights at short notice, until Tarik Solak promoted K-1 Oceania tournament in February 2000. With a record of (15-4, 3KO) Hunt entered his first [[K-1]] tournament as a heavy underdog. He won the K-1 Oceania title by knocking out "The Coconut Crusher" Aumitagi in quarter finals, Rony Sefo in semis and Phil Fagan in the finals. After this impressive performance he was invited to [[Japan]] for K-1 qualifications. He lost his first international fight by unanimous decision against [[Jérôme Le Banner]]. In 2001, Hunt returned to K-1 by winning the K-1 Oceania tournament for the second consecutive year. After that he took part of K-1 World GP 2001 in Melbourne, where he beat Japanese [[boxing|boxer]] [[Hiromi Amada]], before suffering a close unanimous decision loss to reigning champion [[Ernesto Hoost]]. However, because of his exciting fighting style Hunt was granted a [[Wild card (sports)|wildcard]] spot in the repercharge tournament for the K-1 World GP 2001 Finals, when [[Mirko Filipović]] had to pull out due to injury. He was drawn against [[Ray Sefo]], who won the bout by outpointing Hunt. After the fight however, Sefo suffered an eye injury and was not able to continue, allowing Hunt to proceed in his place. Hunt then TKO'd [[Adam Watt]] to earn his place in the K-1 World Grand Prix Finals at the [[Tokyo Dome]]. During the matchmaking for the K-1 Finals, Hunt surprised the crowd by choosing Jérôme Le Banner, whom he had just lost in the previous year, as his quarterfinal opponent. Hunt won the rematch by knocking out Le Banner in the second round and advanced himself onto the semi-finals facing [[Stefan Leko]]. Hunt knocked down Leko two times in the first round and went on to win the fight by unanimous decision. The stage was set for the final battle against Brazilian [[Kyokushin]] karate champion [[Francisco Filho]]. In the final Hunt defeated Filho by unanimous decision to become the '''K-1 World Grand Prix 2001''' champion. In 2002, Hunt went to [[Paris]] to fight Le Banner again for the third time what turned out to be one of the biggest battles in K-1 history. Le Banner, fighting in front of his hometown audience, knocked down Hunt in the second round but was in turn knocked down himself a few seconds later. In the final moments of the round, Hunt was knocked down for the second time again by the powerful Frenchman. In between rounds the towel was thrown in as Hunt could not continue. On [[December 17]], [[2002]], Mark Hunt returned to defend his K-1 World Grand Prix title. In quarter finals, entering the third round and behind on all scorecards, Mark was able to connect with a right cross that knocked out Stefan Leko and advanced him to the semi-finals against his career long nemesis Jerome Le Banner. Despite knocking down the Frenchman at the end of the third round, Hunt lost the fight by decision. It would to be his last K-1 World Grand Prix appearance. ===Mixed martial arts career=== Hunt's mixed martial arts career saw him fight in events in Japan's [[PRIDE Fighting Championships]]. His first MMA fight was a submission loss to [[Hidehiko Yoshida]], an Olympic gold medalist in [[judo]]. In his second fight, he defeated [[United States|American]] [[wrestler]] [[Daniel Bobish]] by TKO. Hunt stepped in as a late replacement for Sakuraba, and won a split decision against an outweighed PRIDE middleweight (205 lb) champion [[Wanderlei Silva]]. Silva, renowned for his brutal punching and [[Muay Thai]] clinch game, was neutralized by the hard-hitting Samoan and knocked down several times in the fight. At the ''[[PRIDE Shockwave 2005]]'' event, Hunt surprisingly defeated [[Mirko Filipović|Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović]] via a dubious split decision, after his earlier loss to him in K-1. At ''[[PRIDE 31|PRIDE 31: Unbreakable]]'', Hunt defeated Japanese boxer [[Yosuke Nishijima]] in the third round with a powerful one-two punch.<ref>[http://www.maximonline.com/slideshows/videos/pridefighting.aspx?film=6 Greatest Pride Fighting Knockouts], Video of Unbreakable, retrieved [[February 16]], [[2007]]</ref> Hunt's next fight was in the opening round of PRIDE's 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix (''[[PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute]]'') on [[May 5]], [[2006]]. His opponent was Japan's Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, who he defeated by TKO in the second round. He then faced American catch-wrestler [[Josh Barnett]] at ''[[PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute]]'' in the second round of the tournament. Hunt was immediately taken down by Barnett and ultimately lost to a [[kimura]] submission roughly two and a half minutes into the first round. Most recently Hunt lost to PRIDE [[Heavyweight (MMA)|heavyweight]] champion [[Fedor Emelianenko]] at ''[[PRIDE Shockwave 2006]]''. Hunt controlled Emelianenko most of the fight and even effectively countered an armbar early in the bout. Hunt's greatest chance of winning came when he was able to put Emelianenko in an [[armlock#americana|americana]]. Unfortunately for Hunt, Emelianenko was able to fight through it and submit Hunt with a kimura. ===Return to K-1=== In April 2008, [[FEG]] announced Hunt's return to K-1 and nominated him as the challenger of K-1 Super Heavyweight title held by [[Semmy Schilt]]. The match was held on [[April 13]], [[2008]], in [[Yokohama]], [[Japan]] at the [[K-1 World GP 2008 in Yokohama]]. Hunt lost the fight at the end of the first round by spinning back kick to the body.<ref name="Hari Shocks Sefo; Schilt Wins in Yokohama">{{cite web | url=http://www.k-1.co.jp/k-1gp/b08_0413_2.htm | title="Hari Shocks Sefo; Schilt Wins in Yokohama" | last=DiPietro | first=Monty | accessdate=2008-04-14 | publisher=K-1 Grand Prix Website }}</ref> ==Titles== *2001 K-1 World Grand Prix champion *2001 K-1 World Grand Prix in Fukuoka champion *2001 K-1 Oceania Grand Prix in Melbourne champion *2000 K-1 Oceania Grand Prix champion *1999 WKBF Australian Super Heavyweight champion ===Kickboxing record=== {| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:85%" |- |style="text-align: center" colspan=8|'''29 Wins''' (13 (T)KO's, 16 decisions), '''12 Losses''' |- | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Date''' | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Result''' | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Opponent''' | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Event''' | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Method''' | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Round''' | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Time''' |- | 04/13/2008 | {{no2}} Loss | {{flagicon|NED}} [[Semmy Schilt]] | [[K-1 World GP 2008 in Yokohama]], Japan | KO (Spinning back kick) | 1 | 3:00 |- | 05/02/2003 | {{yes2}} Win | {{flagicon|TRI}} [[Gary Goodridge]] | [[K-1 World GP 2003 in Las Vegas]], USA | Decision | 5 | 3:00 |- | 12/17/2002 | {{no2}} Loss | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jerome Le Banner]] | [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002]], Japan | Decision | 3 | 3:00 |- | 12/17/2002 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|GER}} [[Stefan Leko]] | [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002]], Japan | KO | 3 | 1:16 |- | 10/05/2002 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Mike Bernardo]] | [[K-1 World GP 2002 in Saitama]], Japan | Decision (Ext.R) | 4 | 3:00 |- | 05/22/2002 | {{no2}}Loss | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jerome Le Banner]] | [[K-1 World GP 2002 in Paris]], France | TKO (Corner stoppage | 2 | 3:00 |- | 03/03/2002 | {{no2}}Loss | {{flagicon|CRO}} [[Mirko Cro Cop]] | [[K-1 World GP 2002 in Nagoya]], Japan | Decision | 5 | 3:00 |- | 01/27/2002 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Tsuyoshi Nakasako]] | [[K-1 Rising 2002]], Japan | TKO | 2 | 2:55 |- | 12/08/2001 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Francisco Filho]] | [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2001]], Japan | Decision (Ext.R) | 4 | 3:00 |- | 12/08/2001 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|GER}} [[Stefan Leko]] | [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2001]], Japan | Decision | 3 | 3:00 |- | 12/08/2001 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jerome Le Banner]] | [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2001]], Japan | KO (Right hook) | 2 | 2:32 |- | 10/08/2001 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Adam Watt]] | [[K-1 World GP 2001 in Fukuoka]], Japan | TKO (Doctor stoppage) | 3 | 1:38 |- | 10/08/2001 | {{no2}}Loss | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Ray Sefo]] | [[K-1 World GP 2001 in Fukuoka]], Japan | Decision | 3 | 3:00 |- | 07/21/2001 | {{no2}}Loss | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Peter Graham (kickboxer)|Peter Graham]] | [[K-1 New Zealand GP 2001]], New Zealand | Decision | 5 | 3:00 |- | 06/16/2001 | {{no2}}Loss | {{flagicon|NED}} [[Ernesto Hoost]] | [[K-1 World GP 2001 in Melbourne]], Australia | Decision | 3 | 3:00 |- | 06/16/2001 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hiromi Amada]] | [[K-1 World GP 2001 in Melbourne]], Australia | KO (Left + Right hook) | 1 | 2:52 |- | 02/24/2001 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Peter Graham (kickboxer)|Peter Graham]] | [[K-1 Oceania GP 2001 in Melbourne]], Australia | KO (Right punch) | 3 | 2:10 |- | 02/24/2001 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Andrew Peck]] | [[K-1 Oceania GP 2001 in Melbourne]], Australia | KO (Right punch) | 1 | 0:48 |- | 02/24/2001 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Nathan Briggs]] | [[K-1 Oceania GP 2001 in Melbourne]], Australia | KO (Referee stoppage) | 1 | 0:57 |- | 07/30/2000 | {{no2}}Loss | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jerome Le Banner]] | [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Nagoya]], Japan | Decision | 3 | 3:00 |- | 05/14/2000 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Fadi Haddara]] | [[K-1 Revenge Oceania 2000]], Australia | Decision | 5 | 3:00 |- | 02/27/2000 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Phil Fagan]] | [[K-1 Oceania GP 2000]], Australia | KO | 2 | 0:30 |- | 02/27/2000 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Rony Sefo]] | [[K-1 Oceania GP 2000]], Australia | Decision | 3 | 3:00 |- | 02/27/2000 | {{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|SAM}} [[Clay Aumitagi]] | [[K-1 Oceania GP 2000]], Australia | KO | 2 | 1:56 |- | 10/23/1999 | {{no2}}Loss | {{flagicon|TON}} [[Nelson Taione]] | Superfighter 2, Sydney, Australia | Decision | 5 | 3:00 |- {{End box}} ===Mixed martial arts record=== {| style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;" class="wikitable" |- ! {{rh}} colspan=2 | Total ! {{rh}} colspan=1 | 5 Wins ! {{rh}} colspan=1 | 3 Losses |- | rowspan=5; colspan=1 | 8 matches | {{rh}} | (T)Knockout |{{yes2}} 3 |{{no2}} 0 |- | {{rh}} | Submission |{{yes2}} 0 |{{no2}} 3 |- | {{rh}} | Decision |{{yes2}} 2 |{{no2}} 0 |- | {{rh}} | Draw | colspan=2 style="background: #c5d2ea" | 0 |- | {{rh}} | No Contest | colspan=2 style="background: #c5d2ea" | 0 |} {| style="font-size: 85%; text-align: left;" class="wikitable" !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Result''' !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Opponent''' !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Method''' !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Event''' !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Date''' !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Round''' !style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Time''' |- |{{no2}}Loss | {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Fedor Emelianenko]] | Submission (Kimura) | [[PRIDE Shockwave 2006]] | [[2006-12-31]] | 1 | 8:16 |- |{{no2}}Loss | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Josh Barnett]] | Submission ([[Kimura]]) | [[PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute]] | [[2006-07-01]] | 1 | 2:02 |- |{{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Tsuyoshi Kohsaka]] | TKO (Strikes) | [[PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute]] | [[2006-05-05]] | 2 | 4:15 |- |{{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yosuke Nishijima]] | KO (Punch) | [[PRIDE 31|PRIDE 31: Unbreakable]] | [[2006-02-26]] | 3 | 1:18 |- |{{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|CRO}} [[Mirko Filipović]] | Decision (Split) | [[PRIDE Shockwave 2005]] | [[2005-12-31]] | 3 | 5:00 |- |{{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Wanderlei Silva]] | Decision (Split) | [[PRIDE Shockwave 2004]] | [[2004-12-31]] | 3 | 5:00 |- |{{yes2}}Win | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dan Bobish]] | TKO | [[PRIDE 28|PRIDE 28: High Octane]] | [[2004-10-31]] | 1 | 6:23 |- |{{no2}}Loss | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hidehiko Yoshida]] | Submission ([[Armbar]]) | [[PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004]] | [[2004-06-20]] | 1 | 5:25 |- |} === Professional boxing record=== {| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:85%" |- | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Date''' | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Result''' | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Opponent''' | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Event''' | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Method''' | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|'''Round''' |- | 8/21/1998 | {{no2}}Loss | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[John Wyborn]] | Wyong Leagues Club, Wyong, New South Wales, Australia | Decision | 3 |- | 4/23/2000 | Draw | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Joe Askew]] | Bondi Diggers Club, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | Decision | 4 |- {{end box}} ==See also== *[[List of male kickboxers]] *[[List of male mixed martial artists]] *[[List of K-1 events]] *[[List of PRIDE events]] *[[List of kickboxing organizations]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Mark}} [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Samoan people]] [[Category:New Zealand kickboxers]] [[Category:New Zealand mixed martial artists]] [[fr:Mark Hunt]] [[nl:Mark Hunt]] [[ja:マーク・ハント]] [[pl:Mark Hunt]] [[pt:Mark Hunt]]