UFC: Mark Hunt losses final Octagon fight, Kai Kara-France wins first

A dejected Mark Hunt after suffering a decision loss in Adelaide. Credit: Image: Getty; Video: Sky Sports

Celebrated MMA heavyweight fighter Mark Hunt has suffered a unanimous points loss to American Justin Wills in Adelaide in the final fight of his UFC contract.

Ranked 10th - five places above Willis - Hunt was unable to land any of his famed fight-changing punches against an opponent who stayed out of range and picked off the 44-year-old veteran with a snappy right jab.

Hunt took some kicks to the leg and his footwork looked slow on Sunday, as all three judges scored 29-28 to the American.

"My apologies about the performance," said Hunt, the New Zealand-born, Sydney- based Super Samoan, who walked to the Octagon following a haka.

Hunt lands a leg kick. Photo credit: Getty
Kai Kara-France scored his debut UFC win. Photo credit: Getty
Photo credit: Getty

In better news for Kiwi fighters, flyweight Kai Kara-France made a successful Octagon debut, dominating Mexican grappler Elias Garcia to score a unanimous points decision.

It wasn't all plain sailing for 'Don't Blink', who was dropped in the first round and almost submitted in the second.

But the Aucklander won every minute in between to secure the comfortable win in front of teammate and middleweight title contender Israel Adesanya.

Australia's Tai Tuivasa's unbeaten MMA record was shattered in a second-round stoppage loss to former world champion Junior Dos Santos in the main event.

Tuivasa, who was 10-0, did well in the final stage of the first round, but was knocked down by a right hand in the second.

Dos Santos then pounded the Australian with several blows, before the referee intervened to stop the contest.

In the co-main event, Australia's Tyson Pedro suffered a third-round stoppage loss to Brazil's former light heavyweight world champion Mauricio Rua.

AAP/Newshub.


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