UFC Fight Night: Mark Hunt vs Frank Mir meet in Brisbane, Dan Hardy previews the fight

UFC welterweight and commentator Dan Hardy previews this weekend's heavyweight contest between Mark Hunt and Frank Mir, in Brisbane, Australia

UFC 193: Hunt v Silva (Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC)

Two heavyweight legends square off in Brisbane this weekend, as former UFC champion Frank Mir crosses oceans to face the hard-hitting Kiwi Mark ‘Super Samoan’ Hunt. Long-time fans have enjoyed following Mark Hunt’s career, through his early kickboxing days in K-1, to Japanese MMA organization Pride FC and then inside the Octagon. His famed ‘walk-off’ finish can only be used by someone with such devastating power. It seems almost supernatural, as if his hands take on the elemental properties of lead, as they collide with opponents. Knowing that his firepower commands respect in a division full of one-punch finishers, he has tailored his game to keep the ball in his court.

He has shown good takedown defence against your average heavyweight, only struggling against a Division 1 All-American standout in Stipe Miocic in a headline fight, also in Australia, last May. His chin is unquestionable, falling only one time to the reigning champ, and from a knee that would drop a shire horse. He may not quite be championship material but if there is such a role as gatekeeper, you don’t want to see the ‘Super Samoan’ standing on the door. Needing only one shot to put an opponent on stand-by, they must be wary until the final bell.

A man that knows this as well as anyone is Hunt’s next challenge, Frank Mir. I've had the good fortune of spending time with Frank during training camps. At first I was brought in to help speed up his hands and reaction time. Being the lighter athlete I took on the role of mosquito and would dart around him landing fast punches and trying my hardest not to get swatted! From then on we shared a couple of training camps together, starting with UFC 146 back in 2012.

Very much the family man, Frank is always surrounded by his children. They push him to train harder and he has accomplished a lot over the last few years. His story is fascinating, signing with the UFC in 2001 at just twenty years old and going on to fight 26 times in the Octagon, over a 15-year career. An exciting heavyweight prospect with strength, athleticism and a lot of technical ability, it didn’t take long before he had the gold belt around his waist. Unfortunately though, it wasn’t to last. A motorcycle accident forced him out of the sport for a while, as he nursed and rehabilitated a broken femur.

His presence in the UFC has always been well-established, and since his injury he has never been far from the title. A tough test for any fighter, Mir is best known for his destructive submission game. When the force that Mir can generate is coupled with the skill that he has, a fighter must be prepared to tap quickly or it may be too late. He has the arms and legs of many top heavyweights in his trophy cupboard, submitting former champions such as Brock Lesnar, Tim Sylvia and Rodrigo Nogueira. In recent years his work with Jimmy Gifford and other striking coaches has added a new element to his game.

UFC 191: Arlovski v Mir - (Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC)

Demonstrating good footwork, fast hands and good combination punching, he has added stoppages to his record as well. It’s no secret that Hunt will want this fight on the feet, it would be foolish to risk a limb on the floor with a highly accomplished black belt like Mir. It would be just as foolish for Mir to trade punch for punch with Hunt. That is a gamble that usually pays off in Mark Hunt’s favour and Frank is smart enough to know it. If I were to predict how this plays out, I’d say that Mir will work cautiously from a distance, trying to get Hunt to commit to something big.

That will offer an easy takedown, or an opportunity to clinch him against the fence and dirty box him. Frank has shown good use of clinch striking in the past and with a slight height advantage he could weigh on Mark and tire him out. Then he will look to get the fight to the ground so as not to waste his energy attempting to floor Hunt, which may never happen.

Hunt will enjoy the distance, and cautiously approach, trying to get Frank backed up against the fence. He will then look to circle him towards the powerful overhand right to seal the deal.

Both scenarios are quite possible, it is all down to who shows up on the night. Will Mir get the advantage early and eventually pull Hunt apart on the ground? Or will the ‘Super Samoan’ hit another home run and finish the show by stepping over his floored opponent and walking off with his hands aloft. When he lands that shot he knows the game is in his pocket. Many men have fallen at the feet of Mark Hunt but Frank Mir has not only faced some of the best around, he has been the best around.

This will be a heavyweight fight for the ages. Two titans of the sport grace the arena one more time, to pit skill and brawn against one another, in the purest, most beautiful sport in the world. Other exciting bouts include dynamic welterweights Hector Lombard and Neil Magny, reformed hockey hardman Steve Bosse against local favourite James Tehuna and a British representative that always delivers a great performance: Ross ‘The Real Deal’ Pearson takes on Chad Laprise in a late change, with both wanting to make a lot of noise in the stacked lightweight division.

Watch UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir live on BT Sport from midnight GMT on Saturday or catch the Early Prelims from 11pm on UFC Fight Pass