In one corner you have Hunt, the ‘Super Samoan’, who is arguably the most dangerous striker in the UFC’s heavyweight division.
In the other is former UFC champ Mir, who sits second all time behind Royce Gracie for the most submission wins in the promotion’s history with eight.
The two square off in the main event of UFC Fight Night 85 in Brisbane Sunday (07:00 UAE time) and it’s a clash with title-challenging implications for both men.
A win for either the no9 ranked Hunt or no10 ranked Mir, will propel them back into the equation.
And the American veteran is hoping to do just that by inflicting a seventh submission loss on his Kiwi opponent.
“He might survive the first time, he might even survive the second time. But on a long enough scale, you’re going to get submitted by me,” Mir told Fox Sports.
“He obviously knows I’d like to submit him and I’m sure Mark wants to stay away from the submissions. So he’s going to try to fight where he’s most comfortable.”
For Hunt the target is simple: to knock Mir out.
“I’m going to try and put my fist through his face and he’s going to try and break my neck or something. So that’s how it’s going to be,” said the former K1 Grand Prix champion.
Both, though, know that this will be their last run at the belt. The 36-year-old Mir is the UFC’s longest-tenured active fighter, having made his debut in the promotion in 2001. And Hunt, who turns 42 next week, is well aware time is not on his side if he wants a second shot at gold, too.
“I feel like I’ve got one more run in me left and Frank Mir is just in my way,” he said.
The question for this fight is not whether or not there will be a finish it’s just by what method.
