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Full Noise by SN
Important update on 1476AMKiwi ex-UFC star Hunt arrested over alleged domestic violence incident
Sport Nation • April 16th, 2026 9:12 am
Mark Hunt | Photo: Photosport
Former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt has reportedly been arrested in northern New South Wales on domestic violence-related charges.
According to Sydney's Daily Telegraph, the 52-year-old Auckland-raised fighter was taken into custody on Tuesday evening after police were called to a property in the Northern Rivers region. He was later transported to Ballina Police Station and charged with one count of stalking or intimidation with intent to cause physical harm. Hunt was refused bail and is due to appear in court.
Hunt remains one of the country’s most recognisable MMA exports - a trailblazer who helped put New Zealand on the global combat sports map long before the rise of the City Kickboxing era.
Nicknamed the “Super Samoan,” Hunt carved out an 18-fight UFC career between 2010 and 2018, headlining multiple events and challenging for interim heavyweight gold against Fabricio Werdum in 2014.
Before and after his UFC run, Hunt was a cult hero across Australasia — from his K-1 kickboxing days to crossover boxing bouts against fellow high-profile Kiwis, including Sonny Bill Williams and Paul Gallen.
Hunt also spent years locked in a high-profile legal battle with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, its president Dana White, and former opponent Brock Lesnar following their controversial 2016 bout. The case was ultimately dismissed, with a US appeals court ruling in favour of the UFC in 2025.
Hunt has not fought in the UFC since 2018.
