A heavyweight battle between Mark Hunt and Antonio Silva is expected to join the UFC 193 fight card according to multiple reports. The bout would be a rematch of one of the most memorable heavyweight clashes in UFC history.
Hunt and Silva first locked horns back in December of 2013 in Australia. The fight was a bloody and brutally violent affair that left the crowd in attendance in awe. After the final bell and rung the official decision called the bout a draw. The decision seemed fitting as both men really did not lose much in terms of fan appreciation.
The glory of the fight would be short-lived as only a few weeks later it was revealed that Silva had failed his post fight drug test. The results found that Silva had an elevated level of testosterone and was suspended nine months for the violation.
Hunt (10-10) would go on to challenge for the UFC’s interim heavyweight title against Fabricio Werdum in June of 2014. Hunt would go on to lose the fight via a second round TKO. He was last seen in the octagon in May when he lost to top contender Stipe Miocic. Though he has a .500 record, Hunt is one of the UFC’s most popular fighters and his constant delivery of exciting fights has put him in favor with company officials.
Silva (19-7) hit a bit of a rough patch after serving his suspension. He returned to action to only lose his next two fights via knockout first to Andrei Arlovski and then to Frank Mir. However, Silva was able to bounce back with a TKO win over Soa Palelei at UFC 190.
UFC 193 is scheduled to take place on November 15, 2015 from the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia and will be headlined by a welterweight championship bout between Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit.