The upcoming mixed martial arts event UFC 180 is airing this Saturday live in Mexico City's Arena Ciudad de Mexico. Its heavyweight main card pits Fabricio Werdum vs. underdog Mark Hunt, the latter of whom was a late replacement for injured defending champion Cain Velasquez.
Not many fans (or oddsmakers) are giving the 40-year-old Hunt much of a shot. He's a 3-to-1 underdog who will have to fight the younger Werdum at a location 7,300 feet above sea level. One notable MMA figure, however, is bullish on Hunt's chances: Dana White.
Speaking to News Australia (Hunt's home country), White praised the long and winding road Hunt took to get to this title bout, calling him "one of the greatest stories in sports right now."
"I like stories in all of sports where you have a guy like Mark Hunt, who is older, an underdog, came from one style and a lot of people doubt what he is capable of doing yet the athlete himself doesn't doubt himself," White also said. "Anybody who thinks Mark Hunt can't win on Saturday night is nuts."
Speaking to ESPN before UFC 180, Hunt himself was humble, yet defiant.
"My whole life I've been told I'm worthless," he said. "All I hear is 'blah, blah, blah.' All I put in my mind is 'whatever.' I'm better than this. I put positives in my head because at the end of the day, I'm the one who looks at myself in the mirror. I've already won by being here."
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