PART THREE- DREAM TO UFC
THE DREAM NIGHTMARE
Alistair Overeem: DREAM Osaka, Japan (2008)
With Overeem coming in as a last minute replacement, Hunt was confident of a win in his first outing for DREAM. It was not to be.
Melvin Manhoef: DYNAMITE!!, Japan (2008)
After consecutive losses to Barnett, Emilianenko and Overeem, Hunt was desperate for a win, and thought he would easily steam-roll natural middleweight Manhoef. Instead he would suffer his first ever KO defeat.
Sparring with trainer Steve Oliver
After five consecutive losses Mark recieved a chance to fight in the UFC. He knew this was to be his last chance in top-flite MMA competition. After many years training poorly or not at all, he asked Steve Oliver to get him back into shape for one last title run.
THE UFC RESURGENCE
With three fights on his contract, Mark thought he'd need at least two wins to keep going. After training hard at American Top Team, Hunt was devastated when he lost his first UFC fight to Sean 'Big Sexy' McCorkle.
Cheik Kongo: UFC 144, Japan (2012)
After winning the last two of his three contracted UFC fights, Hunt was given another contract, fighting first ATT teammate Chiek Kongo.
Stefan Struve: UFC on Fuel, Japan (2013)
After three consecutive wins, Mark was getting close to the top heavyweights, which then included 210cm tall Stefan Struve. Hunt KO'd Struve, shattering his jaw in the process. Struve later posted an x-ray of the break on Twitter.
In 2013, Mark would have his first UFC main event in Brisbane, Australia, against Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva. Many consider it to be the greatest heavyweight MMA fight of all time. The fight ended in a majority drawn, but was later ruled a 'no contest' after Silva failed his drug test.