Mark Hunt has taken to social media to criticize Jon Jones, the new UFC heavyweight champion. Hunt resorted to calling him a PED using “rat” and questioning the credibility of the organization.
Hunt’s comments came after Jones’ victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, where he cemented himself as arguably the greatest UFC star of all time by defeating Gane via a stunning first-round submission.
Despite Jones’ hugely successful career, it has been complicated by matters away from the sport. The 35-year-old American has had multiple run-ins with the law and has been hit with multiple bans after failing PED tests.
Hunt, who has been an outspoken critic of PED use in the sport of MMA, did not hold back in his criticism of Jones and the UFC. He went on to say that the entire organization has “zero credibility.” He also criticized the UFC for promoting Jones despite his checkered past.
Hunt has had a rocky relationship with the UFC over the years and even filed a lawsuit against the promotion, UFC president Dana White, and Brock Lesnar back in 2017. The lawsuit claimed that they knew of Brock Lesnar’s use of PEDs prior to their event at UFC 200. In January 2022, the United States District Court in Nevada dismissed the case and ordered Hunt to pay attorney fees and costs amounting to over $690,000 to the UFC.
Hunt took on boxer and former All Black Sonny Bill Williams in a boxing match in 2022 that he admitted he accepted largely for financial reasons. He retired subsequently.
Mark Hunt’s criticism of Jon Jones and the UFC highlights the ongoing issue of certain stars being able to bend USADA to their will. It remains to be seen whether the UFC will take action to address this problem and restore its credibility in the eyes of mixed martial artists and fans alike.
Since 2014, Benny A. King has been fully immersed in the world of combat sports. Starting with a blog about Greco Roman wrestling, Benny’s passion for combat sports has led him to explore various disciplines.