Former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt found himself at the center of a troubling legal matter this week after being arrested at a property in New South Wales’ Northern Rivers region on Tuesday night.
According to sources, Australian police responded to reports of an alleged DV incident at the address and took Hunt into custody overnight at Ballina Police Station. The former UFC heavyweight appeared the following day in Ballina Local Court to face a single charge of stalking or intimidation with intent to cause physical harm.
Police alleged in court that Hunt had been assisting a woman with a task when he began behaving in an “intimidating and berating manner” that caused “fear and distress” for her and a witness who was present, ultimately leading to police being called.
Prosecutors also informed the court that Hunt had allegedly sent a threatening text message to the woman, reportedly containing the words: “I’m just going to m*rder you in the end anyway.”
His legal team pushed back on that claim, disputing that Hunt had sent the message. No additional charges have been filed in relation to it.
The prosecution initially opposed bail, with the police prosecutor pointing to Hunt’s extensive background in wrestling and combat sports as representing an elevated risk to the woman and the community. The defense countered that his professional career had no bearing on the alleged incident and indicated their client was likely to plead guilty to the charge.
Judge Lisa Viney ultimately granted Hunt bail, on the conditions that he return to his rural Sydney address and have no contact with the woman at the center of the case. He is scheduled to reappear before Ballina Local Court on April 30, where the matter will be heard alongside an Apprehended Violence Order application made on behalf of the woman.
Hunt’s journey to international recognition began in the late 1990s when he started training at a local Muay Thai gym. His talent quickly became apparent on the world kickboxing circuit, culminating in a triumphant run at the 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix, one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments.
He transitioned into mixed martial arts in 2004, making his debut with Pride FC before eventually joining the UFC, where he spent eight years as a legitimate top-10 heavyweight contender and became one of the most recognizable names in the sport.
After parting ways with the organization in 2018 amid a dispute, Hunt returned to competition in 2022 for a high-profile boxing event in Sydney, where he famously handed Sonny Bill Williams the first professional loss of his career.
Hunt’s next court date is set for April 30 in Ballina.
