Betting markets, info and free tips for UFC Fight Night 85

Saturday, March 19 from 11.50pm EST at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

THE UFC returns to Australia for the first time since the infamous UFC 193 with New Zealand product Mark Hunt facing off against former heavyweight champion Frank Mir in the main event.

It looks to be a grappler against a striker with Mir considered a submission expert, while Hunt has made a career out of knocking fighters out.

The experts believe it will be a slugger versus a submission-artist, and Mir finds it hard to disagree.

“There’s no secrets with this fight,” Mir said.

“Obviously he wants to try and knock me out and I’m looking to get the submission.

“I think the interesting part is how we’re both going to try to accomplish our goals. How is he going to make sure is stays a stand-up fight, and how am I going to try and get to the opportunity to make it a ground fight?”

The 36-year-old American said that while the fight looks to be a boxer versus a martial artist on paper, it may not pan out that way in the main event.

“At its most simplistic, I see my advantage in the grappling world and he sees his advantage in the stand-up. We both want to minimize the other’s advantage.

“Obviously he is a great striker but in my world – in MMA – I’ve knocked out very good strikers, before,”

Mir said he was prepared to do whatever it takes to get the win against Hunt, which includes inflicting a career-ending injury if the ‘Super Samoan’ refuses to tap.

“When I say continue fighting, I mean if he taps, he can continue on (with his career). Kneebars and heel hooks at his age could take him out of competition for an extremely long time,” Mir said.

Mark Hunt’s response was just as emphatic.

The 41-year-old stated he is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice in the middle of the octagon.

“Good, break my legs, at least they will be broken at work,” Hunt said.

“I am ready to die in there. I am ready to give my life in there to be the best fighter on the planet and I don’t know if he is.

The victor will be launched right back into title contention while retirement is a likely prospect for either fighter if they are unsuccessful in Brisbane.

Frank Mir believes a win against Hunt will put him right in the title picture.

“I think coming back and being have to have a very dominant showing against Mark would put me right back in line for talk of maybe one more fight in 2016, setting up for a title shot.

“Especially because heavyweight division is very much back and forth. It’s a shorter route to victory, as opposed to the smaller divisions because there are more smaller guys that like to fight.” Mir said.

“But that’s also stressful because it’s like every (heavyweight fight) is the Super Bowl.”

Hunt stated that this is more than likely his last shot at UFC gold.

“I think I’ve got one more run at the title and this is it,” Hunt said.

“If I lose any one of these fights then I might as well just call it a day.”

Tale of the tape

Mark Hunt holds all the size and reach advantages going into Saturday night’s bout.

Height: Hunt 177.8cm , Mir 190.5cm

Weight: Hunt 120.2kg, Mir 119.7kg

Reach: Hunt 188.2cm, Mir 200.66cm

Leg reach: Hunt 109.22cm, Mir 109.22cm

Match odds:

Odds courtesy of Bovada.com

Mark Hunt -175

Frank Mir +145

Two men who are looking to get back into the UFC heavyweight title picture clash at UFC Fight Night 95 with Mark Hunt battling Frank Mir.
The fight looms as a contrast of styles.

Frank Mir is a submission specialist who is the only man in the UFC to break two limbs inside the octagon which could spell trouble for Hunt who has six of his ten career defeats coming via tapout.

Hunt has lethal hands that can knock out any fighter out in an instant; this will help the 41-year-old counteract Mir’s ability to take him down as the KO will be a constant threat.

It looks a terrific fight on paper and it could go either way but we are favouring Mark Hunt to get the win via knockout.