UFC brings heavyweight duel to New Zealand in its 400th event

Lewis (left) catches Hunt (right) at the 400th UFC event (Photo: Reproduction Twitter @ufc)

This Saturday Ultimate will reach a significant milestone in a journey that began in 1993. After almost 24 years of lots of action, the company reaches, at UFC Auckland this Saturday (10), its 400th event – counting Fight Nights, pay-per -views and endings of The Ultimate Fighter -. The legitimate heavyweights Derrick Lewis e Mark Hunt will have the honor of putting on the show at this historic milestone, as they will have the main fight of the night.

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Coming off six consecutive victories, “Black Beast” Lewis made a point of challenging the veteran Mark Hunt, who was world champion in K-1 and even fought for the interim UFC heavyweight title. Owner of the house, the “Super Samoan” is not in a good phase, having been knocked out by alistair overeem in his last fight.

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At the 400th show organized by the UFC, only one Brazilian will be in action. Henrique Frankenstein, who arrives under pressure to face Ion cutelaba, as it comes from two consecutive defeats. They also fight at UFC Auckland, the latest victim of Anderson Silva, the american Derek Brunson, which takes on “Judo” Dan Kelly, from Australia, and the winner of the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter, Ross Pearson, who faces Daniel Hooker.

Very heavy weights

Lewis (right) is favorite against Hunt (left) Photo: Reproduction Twitter @ufc_brasil)

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At the weigh-in last Friday (9), both Derrick Lewis as Mark Hunt They were at the limit of the heavyweight category, weighing 120 kg. This means that the two probably needed to cut weight to avoid breaking the mark. In the duel of giants, the advantage seems to belong to the visitor. Lewis comes from six consecutive victories against increasingly qualified opponents. The North American left names like Roy Nelson, Travis Browne and Gabriel Gonzaga.

Hunt, in turn, cannot be underestimated either. Owner of one of the best exchanges in the division, the former K-1 world champion is not in a good phase. Oldest fighter on the current UFC roster at 43 years old, the “Super Samoan” hasn’t won since March last year, when he knocked out Frank mir. Since then, it has lost to Brock Lesnar (in a fight that was later unsuccessful due to doping by the former champion) and for alistair overeem. Facing Lewis, Hunt may have the last opportunity to start a run for the UFC belt.

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Brazilian with rope around his neck

H. Frankenstein (right) needs to win in Auckland (Photo: Reproduction Twitter @ufc_brasil)

After a good start in Ultimate, with two victories, by technical knockout against Jonathan Wilson and submitting Joachim Christensen, Henrique Frankenstein ended up losing his last two duels, contested just over a month apart. On December 17th, it was finalized by Paul Craig and on January 28th he lost a decision to Jordan Johnson.

Since then, however, the Brazilian has focused on improving his game and has been patient, rather than accepting fights in succession. This Saturday, he will have the opportunity to free the noose from his neck with a victory over Ion cutelaba. The light heavyweight, who likes to dress up as Hulk at weigh-ins, also comes from a defeat, to Jared Cannonier. The duel is worth redemption for both, but a defeat could weigh much more heavily on Frankenstein.

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Other fights

D. Brunson seeks recovery in Auckland (Photo: Reproduction Twitter @ufc)

In addition to the duels already outlined, UFC Auckland will feature good fights, especially in its main portion. The second most important fight of the night pits Derek Brunson and the dangerous “Judo” Dan Kelly. Brunson became known to the general public when he faced Anderson Silva at UFC 208. Shy, the North American let the former champion dictate the pace of the fight and did not show his potential, losing the decision.

And Kelly is a master at making his opponents fight his fight, follow his rhythm. Full of morale after an undisputed victory over Rashad evans, former light heavyweight champion, the Australian middleweight enters as an underdog, but could surprise again.

Winner of TUF 9, Englishman Ross Pearson recently returned to lightweight, after an adventure at welterweight. But the return didn't do much good, as he lost to Steven Ray in November last year. In the face of dangerous Dan Hooker, who moves up from featherweight to lightweight, Pearson has the chance to end his negative run of three setbacks.

Another The Ultimate Fighter winner in action is Tim Elliott. The flyweight, who won TUF 24 and took the champion Demetrious Johnson to the limit, he seeks another victory in his return to Ultimate against the dangerous Ben Nguyen. Elliott has already impressed after the setback to DJ by completely dominating Louis Smolka in April this year and wants another victory to get back on track for the belt.