Excited to face Roy Nelson, Mark Hunt guarantees: 'I want to fight for the belt'

M. Hunt (photo) will make his second consecutive UFC main event. Photo: Keith Tsuji//UFC

There are few professional MMA fighters who reach 40 years of activity. Even fewer are the number of athletes who reach this age and still remain among the top names in their category and with ambitious plans for the future. In this select group is the New Zealander Mark Hunt, veteran with more than 20 years of experience in combat sports. About to face Roy Nelson In the main fight of UFC Fight Night 52, this Saturday (20) in Japan, Hunt assured that he still wants to fight for the heavyweight title.

“It’s good for me to still be doing what I’m doing at my age. I love doing this, but when it's over I won't go back. I don't need the money. The only reason I keep fighting is because I believe I'm still the best fighter on the planet. I want to beat Roy (Nelson) on Saturday night and then I want to take a top-5 fighter. And so I want to fight for the belt once, against whoever it may be. That's what I'm interested in. I want a title shot,” Hunt told the press during coverage of UFC Japan 2014.

Despite his confidence, the PRIDE and DREAM veteran preached respect for Roy Nelson and remembered that underestimating his opponent has already cost him dearly in the past. “I'm very excited for this fight. I'm not going to underestimate any fighter. I already did this once and ended up getting knocked out. He (Roy Nelson) is one of the best fighters on the planet. We have our similarities. I’m looking forward to Saturday night and hope to have a great performance,” he said.

At 40, Mark Hunt has a professional record of nine wins, eight losses and one draw. The New Zealander, currently in sixth place in the UFC heavyweight rankings, comes from a draw with Antonio Pezão in December last year, in Australia.