Former UFC heavyweight star Mark Hunt has ignited a fiery social media feud, directly challenging a Sydney-based personal trainer who publicly condemned him following Hunt's recent arrest on domestic violence charges. The mixed martial arts cult hero, known as the 'Super Samoan', has provocatively offered his critic a staggering $100,000 prize if he can secure victory in an agreed-upon jockboxing bout.
Arrest and Charges Lead to Public Backlash
Mark Hunt was arrested by police in north-east New South Wales in mid-April, facing serious legal allegations. The court proceedings revealed he was charged with one count of stalking or intimidation with intent to cause physical harm. Authorities further alleged that Hunt sent a death threat via text message to a female acquaintance, intensifying the severity of the case.
After being released on bond under strict conditions, which included relocating back to Cobbity, Hunt turned his attention to a personal trainer operating under the Instagram handle sydneyspt. This individual had previously used his platform to vocally criticise Hunt's actions, specifically referencing the domestic violence arrest and the alleged death threat.
Social Media Exchange Escalates Rapidly
The personal trainer initially commented on a post where Hunt attempted to explain the circumstances leading to his arrest. The trainer's response was stark, stating: "You threatened to kill her, you didn't just argue. There's a very big difference between normal relationship marriage arguments and death threats." He further expressed concern about the normalisation of such behaviour, particularly given Hunt's public profile and influence.
This critique prompted an explosive reaction from the former UFC fighter. Hunt took to his own Instagram account, issuing a direct challenge: "I would like to give this a f*****g dong for real. This PT, Indian PT guys, I don't know why he's speaking out he has none of the f******g facts, no clue about it but he just talking his trash." Hunt explicitly proposed a bareknuckle fight with no time limits, boldly claiming it would be his pleasure to "change his life."
Accusations and Counterarguments Fly
The trainer swiftly responded, accusing Hunt of ironically proving his original point about resorting to violence when emotionally provoked. "So I criticised you for resorting to violence when you lose control of your emotions, now here you are resorting to violence because you've lost control of your emotions, your ego's hurt, I get it," the trainer posted. He emphasised that as a public figure, Hunt is subject to public opinion and scrutiny, especially regarding actions that involve threats and violence.
After an initial retraction where Hunt mockingly stated the "loser has no clue how to look after himself," the two parties eventually reached an agreement. They decided to settle their dispute in a jockboxing event, though not under Hunt's preferred bareknuckle conditions. Instead, the fight will proceed with both combatants wearing 8oz gloves.
Fight Details and Financial Stakes Confirmed
Despite some compromise on the rules, Hunt expressed a degree of satisfaction with the arrangement. The veteran fighter, who holds an MMA record of 13 wins, 14 losses, one draw, and one no contest across 29 professional bouts, remarked: "I am not going to go back and forth, this guy has grown a backbone but he doesn't want to do bareknuckle or MMA gloves. 8oz gloves he said he will do, I don't want to do either because you can really feel, bareknuckle and MMA gloves you can really do but 8oz gloves will have to do."
The agreed-upon contest will feature no time limit, with the bout concluding only when one man is left standing. Adding significant financial incentive to the already heated confrontation, Hunt has pledged to award his opponent $100,000 should he emerge victorious, dramatically raising the stakes of this personal and very public dispute.
