It was recently revealed that UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt has been pulled from his main event fight against Marcin Tybura that was set for the UFC’s return to Australia. Following the news, “The Super Samoan” offered some heated words for UFC President Dana White and the mixed martial arts promotion.
It was later revealed that Hunt has been pulled from the fight due to “medical issues.” Hunt admitted to issues potentially caused by head trauma in a previous interview. The interview has since been reported as the source for Hunt’s removal from UFC Fight Night 121.
In the interview with PlayersVoice.com, Hunt said:
“I will probably end my life fighting.
“I’ve been fighting since I was a child, fighting to get out of my circumstances. I used to make $300 a week, struggling to put food on the table but I have become one of the highest-paid fighters in the world. I feel that’s destiny. This is what I’m supposed to be doing and if I die fighting, that’s fine. I just hope that if it does happen, it will be in an honest and fair competition.
“My body is f**ked but my mind is still here. I’ve still got my senses about me and I know what’s right and wrong, which is the main thing.
“Sometimes I don’t sleep well. You can hear me starting to stutter and slur my words. My memory is not that good anymore. I’ll forget something I did yesterday but I can remember the shit I did years and years ago. That’s just the price I’ve paid – the price of being a fighter. But I’ve fought a lot of drug cheats and copped a lot of punishment from guys who were cheating and that’s not right.”
Taking to Instagram, Hunt offered an explanation to his statements from the previous interview.
Here is what Hunt had to say:
“I spent hours the other day with the doctors I was cleared to fight the interview I did with players voice was misquoted I don’t slur my words and is a is a running joke between my wife and me my memory isn’t that great but who remembers shit they dont want to not good @ufc @danawhite”
Update: Mark Hunt has released another statement:
“I’m disappointed that I have been withdrawn from the fight, I have passed all medicals 2 days ago. And spent 100,000 on camp. The truth is the legal case I have filed has caused me to be withdrawn. The interview has been taken out of context and want to reassure all my fans, I slur my words only when I have a drink I’m fit and healthy, and would have understood if the UFC requested a medical to ensure my safety, however this is total bullshit fuck you Dana, you’ve always hated me you dog”
UFC Fight Night 121 goes down Nov. 18 in Sydney, Australia with a main event match up between Fabricio Werdum and Marcin Tybura.
