• UFC 146

Mark Hunt v Junior Dos Santos not happening - White

ESPN staff
April 15, 2012
Dana White will not throw Mark Hunt into a UFC heavyweight title fight against Junior Dos Santos © Getty Images
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UFC president Dana White has ruled out the option of having Mark Hunt fight Junior Dos Santos for the heavyweight title.

Hunt's name gathered real momentum on social media outlets after Alistair Overeem - scheduled to fight Dos Santos - failed a drug test. Overeem's hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission is set for April 24.

If Overeem cannot explain his failed test the UFC will be left looking for a replacement opponent for Dos Santos, but it will not be Hunt, according to White.

"Yes. They can keep rallying. It ain't going to happen," the president said after Saturday's UFC on Fuel 2 event. "I have apologised and praised Mark Hunt for what he's accomplished in the situation he was in.

"I think this fight with [Stefan] Struve is a good fight for him. If he beats Struve, he'll break in and start fighting some of the top five heavyweights in the world.

"Anything can happen in a fight, but in all reality, it's not fair to Mark Hunt either, to throw the guy right in there with Junior Dos Santos for a title shot. The guy worked his way up, he beats Struve, he fights somebody in the top five.

"I guarantee you this, he beats Struve, his next fight will be someone in the top five that can get him closer to that title shot."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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