A heavyweight fight between Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem will go ahead at UFC 209 in March after ‘The Super Samoan’ backed down on his pre-fight demands.
When word emerged that the bout had been verbally agreed recently, Hunt publicly stated that he’d only sign the contract if the UFC agreed to his demand that he receive his opponent’s full purse if he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.
Hunt had wanted the clause in his contract due to the fact that he’s repeatedly found himself fighting against people who would fail drug tests afterewards, including the likes of Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva, Frank Mir and most recently Brock Lesnar.
Unfortunately for Hunt, the UFC have refused to bow down to his demands, and so the 42 year-old has finally called an end to his stand-off with the promotion.
“Think it from my position, I had no other option,” Hunt told the ‘Stuff’ site. “I can’t work anywhere else so what am I supposed to do — let my family starve?
“In six months I’ve already missed out on a couple of fights, I’ve already missed out on a couple million dollars,” Hunt said. … ”At the end of the day I’ve stuck to my word. I’ve got no option, I’m in a contract that I can’t get out of.
“All the doors I’ve gone through are closed and it’s not like I can go and work somewhere else. Ages ago I was gladly ready to walk away and work somewhere else but they wouldn’t allow it.”
