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Share on FacebookThe fight between Mark Hunt and Antonio Silva at UFC Fight Night 33 in December 2013 is often regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight bouts in history.
The two men met in the main event in Brisbane, Australia, and from the opening seconds it was clear there would be no tactical chess match — this was pure war. Hunt started stronger, using his powerful kicks and signature kickboxing stance. Silva, who was significantly bigger, relied on pressure, clinch work, and constant exchanges.
In the third round, Hunt dropped Silva with a heavy right hand and seemed close to victory. Silva’s face was bloodied, but he survived. Then the momentum shifted — in the fourth round Silva pushed hard, Hunt was visibly exhausted, and the Brazilian rocked him with a knee and a series of punches.
The fifth round became legendary: both men were completely drained, their faces swollen and covered in blood, yet they kept trading heavy shots with almost no defense. The crowd was on its feet, and the two were literally fighting on pure heart. When the final bell rang, they embraced in the middle of the Octagon, knowing they had done something special.
The fight ended in a rare majority draw — one judge scored it 48-47 for Hunt, while the other two had it 47-47. The bout won “Fight of the Night” honors and remains one of the most spectacular and brutal fights in UFC history.
Later, the result became even more controversial because Silva tested positive for elevated testosterone levels after the fight. Hunt’s result remained a draw, while Silva’s result was changed to a no contest.
- The rematch
The rematch between Mark Hunt and Antonio Silva in 2015 was the complete opposite of their first epic war.
The two met again at UFC 193 in Melbourne in front of more than 56,000 fans. After the five-round massacre in 2013, everyone expected another long battle, but this time Hunt had no intention of leaving things in the hands of the judges.
The opening minute was cautious, with Silva trying to use his height and reach advantage. Hunt, however, stayed calm, waited for the right moment, and gradually started closing the distance. After a left-right combination, Silva already looked shaken. A little later, Hunt landed a crushing straight right to the temple that literally folded the Brazilian to his knees against the fence. The referee immediately stopped the fight.
The official result was a first-round TKO win for Hunt at 3:41. In this way, he finally secured a decisive victory over Silva after their draw in 2013.
Although the rematch lacked the drama and madness of the first fight, for Hunt’s fans it was deeply satisfying — almost like the “sixth round” of the first battle, but with a definitive ending.
