Co-main event against Junior Dos Santos will go ahead after paperwork issue.
A crisis has been averted with UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt clearing up visa issues in time to fly to Las Vegas for his bout this weekend against Junior Dos Santos.
The pair will lock horns at the MGM Grand Arena Garden in Las Vegas as the co-main event for UFC 160, but the promotion nearly had to resort to plan B.
Through a mix-up and paperwork not arriving from New Zealand to his training-base in Australia and a past legal problem also slowing up the process, Hunt has been unable to travel to the United States in order to finalise his preparation.
If the delay had gone on any longer UFC president Dana White and matchmaker Joe Silva might have had to give the slot to face Dos Santos to another contender.
If that was the case it would have been the second time the promotion has had to alter the fight, with Alistair Overeem having to pull out due to injury.
If Hunt did miss out it would have proved a crushing blow, after going through a resurgence in his career of late, with the ‘Super Samoan’ carrying the longest active winning streak in the heavyweight division into this weekend, having won his last four fights.
However, Hunt (9-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC) confirmed on Sunday he has his visa and his license to fight in Nevada against the former champion Dos Santos (15-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC).
Despite the former Pride fighter likely to be in America on Tuesday, Hunt said this week it would give him the est preparation saying he felt sluggish the last time he landed in Las Vegas so close to a fight.
“I’m just running out of time to get over there and acclimatize,” Hunt said.
The winner of the bout between Hunt and Dos Santos is likely to become the number one contender to face the victor from the main event at UFC 160, when Cain Velasquez defends his heavyweight strap against Antonio Silva.
COMMENTS