Sherdog’s Top 10: New Year’s Eve Fights

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7. Mirko Filipovic vs. Mark Hunt
Pride “Shockwave 2005” | Dec. 31, 2005

Two of the game’s most feared strikers helped fight fans ring in 2006, as K-1 stars Filipovic and Hunt renewed their rivalry under the Pride banner. The pairing of Filipovic and Hunt was actually a rematch of a 2002 K-1 bout between the two men in Nagoya, Japan, which “Cro Cop” won via five-round unanimous decision.

It had been a year since Hunt had halted Wanderlei Silva’s unbeaten run in the promotion, and the New Zealand native was making his return to the MMA arena against yet another dangerous adversary. Filipovic had already acquired a wealth of experience in the sport, taking on the likes of Fedor Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman and Igor Vovchanchyn, to name a few.

While Hunt did not possess the distinct size advantage he did against Silva, he was still the larger man in the heavyweight contest. Considering the formidable tools of the combatants in the ring, the fight was largely a disappointment. Filipovic appeared to tire after a round, and he was too often one-dimensional in attacking primarily with high and low kicks while avoiding using his hands. Hunt moved forward consistently, but he, too, never truly unveiled his full arsenal. His effort surpassed Filipovic’s, however, and Hunt emerged from the contest with a split decision triumph.

It was not a total dud, but Filipovic-Hunt had the feel of a bout that could have been so much more. Familiarity often breeds contempt, but in the case of these former K-1 foes, it might have bred caution, as well.

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