Issue 122
December 2014
SEPTEMBER 2014
TUESDAY 2ND
Mark Hunt takes a break from training as the media drop in to the gym to shoot some pre-fight clips with the UFC heavyweight.
FRIDAY 5TH
Mark fuels his muscles with a daytime steak meal, accompanied by his coaches and training partners. Later he puts his cardio to the test with a ZUU session – a kind of animalistic-style bodyweight training.
SATURDAY 6TH
It’s Father’s Day in Australia and the ‘Super Samoan’ celebrates the occasion with an evening at a talk given by motivational youth speaker Reggie Dabbs.
SUNDAY 7TH
A proud man of faith, the former K-1 champion takes his mind off another hard day of training with a night at Equippers Church in Auckland to watch a live concert by Christian rap group LZ7.
FRIDAY 12TH
Having undergone another hard week of training preparing for his upcoming fight in Japan, Mark switches roles from fighter to spectator at the TSB Stadium in New Plymouth to watch a boxing event, featuring a light heavyweight title fight between Sam ‘The Terror’ Rapira and Richard Hackney. Rapira wins via fifth-round KO.
MONDAY 15TH
It’s the week of the fight, which means Hunt must leave for Japan. While at the airport waiting to depart he posts a video message online. “In Aus all the fans, all around the place, cheers. Thanks very much for your support,” he says before boarding his flight.
FRIDAY 19TH
It’s the day of the weigh-in and there is some worry about whether or not Hunt will be able to make the 265lb limit, as he started camp heavy at around 337lb. However, all worries are dispelled as he hits the scale at 264lb, with opponent Roy Nelson weighing 260lb.
SATURDAY 20TH
Fight night has finally arrived and Hunt enters the Octagon inside the Saitama Super Arena in front of 12,000-plus fans. With he and his opponent being probably the two hardest-hitting, granite-chinned fighters in the UFC, everyone is eager to see who will prevail. Three minutes into the second round it’s Hunt who proves superior as he lands an uppercut which face-plants Nelson, earning Hunt another trademark ‘walk away’ KO.
...
