http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/4/13/2945485/ufc-146-mark-hunt-title-shot-alistair-overeem-stefan-struve*Note: I never include the opening pleasantries from interviews, but I am for this one. Mark was quite a handful, and the very first thing out of his mouth sort of set the tone for the entire segment. He also laughed. A lot.
Interviewer: Hey Mark, it's a pleasure to talk to you. What's going on?
Mark Hunt: Nothing much, really. Just a lot of porn and a lot of Twitter. [laughs] You didn't know about that, did ya?
Interviewer: How did the Army of Doom come into existence?
Mark Hunt: The Army of Doom, brother. The Army of Doom. Thanks to the guys at the Underground. I think they started it. It was pretty cool, so good on them. I'm on board 100%. And Twitter, I'm on it all the time. I'm like a junkie. I can't get off it. If my phone dies, you'll know why, because it's only got a little battery left. (author note: It did die)
Interviewer: Have you talked to Dana about any of this?
Mark Hunt: No. I don't think the guys up there talk to the small people like me. They just bark orders at us. [laughs]
Interviewer: How does it make you feel, knowing that so many people are campaigning for you like this?
Mark Hunt: It's great. I can feel the love. I'm enjoying it, and it's a whole lot of fun.
Interviewer: You got in the UFC, and outside of your first bout, you've beaten all your opponents. How many fights would you say it will take for you to get a title shot without it being a replacement fight?
Star-divide
Mark Hunt: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...I don't really care how long it takes to get a title shot. I'm just going to keep fighting. It's not my decision, what goes on with who gets a title shot. I mean, some people get their shots in two or three fights. They're pretty lucky. I wish I could be like them.
Interviewer: You've been at this for a long time. Can you even remember a time when you weren't fighting?
Mark: I think I was fighting from the moment I was coming out the bloody hole [laughs].
Interviewer: What are your thoughts on Stefan Struve?
Mark Hunt: He's a young kid, but a food fighter. I'm looking forward to the challenge. It'll be a good scrap.
Interviewer: Even though Stefan has a kickboxing background, do you think he'll try to get this one to the ground?
Mark Hunt: Yeah, I think so. I think everyone will try to get me down.
Interviewer: Describe what it was like for you, fighting in Denver.
Mark Hunt: I just loved it! I love feeling like I'm going to die. I wish I could wake up to that feeling every day [laughs]. Honestly, it was just hard. The altitude there is ridiculous. How was I feeling? Run 800 meters about three or four times, and then start your fight. That's how it feels.
Interviewer: If they offered you another fight at elevation, would you turn it down?
Mark Hunt: No. I don't turn down any fights. I'd have to go out a couple months early, to climatize. That's what I'd do. I'd never turn a fight down. I'd just be there two months prior.
Interviewer: How do you feel about Alistair and other guys that get caught using TRT or other banned substances?
Mark Hunt: That's on Alistair and those other people that are taking it. It's like those sprinters that took it. Ben Johnson and Marion Jones lost all their gold medals. That was the same sort of sh*t, wasn't it? So now, everything he's (Overeem) done and accomplished is in question now. They f*cked their sh*t up. I'm not going to sit here and judge, but you asked me the question, so that's my opinion on it.
Interviewer: What are your thoughts on steroids in MMA? Does it bother you, or it doesn't really make much of a difference?
Mark Hunt: It's a cutthroat business, but I don't take that sh*t. I don't really care what they're taking. They can take as much as they like, but when you get punched in the teeth or the lips or whatever it is, you're still gonna be going to sleep. It doesn't matter how much steroids you take. People take that stuff to train harder or for recovery, but if you get hit, you'll still go to sleep.
Interviewer: You seem to be fairly healthy and injury free. Do you like a high level of fight activity or do you prefer a little more recovery time in between?
Mark Hunt: Of course. I'm pretty glad to get this fight so soon. I think the guys that don't fight for such a long time, they don't stay sharp. It's hard to fight again, if you take a long time off, but if you fight constantly, it's pretty good, and it keeps you skills sharp.
Injury-wise, I'm pretty good. I haven't been injured that badly, so I've been lucky.
Interviewer: Do you miss K-1 at all?
Mark Hunt: No. I'm over it. I've been there and done that. Now I'm on to something bigger and better.
Interviewer: How much do you bench?
Mark Hunt: Cheeseburgers and cake [laughs].
At this point, I asked Mark about Billy Idol, and he was about to belt out White Wedding for us, but his phone finally died. Hopefully, I'll get him to sing it next time around.
Follow Mark via his Twitter, @markhunt1974
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