Source: USA TODAY

As a New Zealand native and current Sydney resident, Mark Hunt is used to logging thousands of air miles to get to work. He has fought dozens of fights in Japan as a K-1 kickboxer and as a mixed martial artist in the now-defunct PRIDE organization.

But now, as a UFC heavyweight who competes primarily in North America, a travel visa never has played such a pivotal career role.

Two weeks ago, Hunt (9-7 mixed martial arts, 4-1 UFC) twice was stopped at the airport when he attempted to fly from New Zealand to the USA to complete his training camp for a meeting with former champ Junior dos Santos (15-2, 9-1) at UFC 160 on Saturday at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (10p.m. ET, pay-per-view).

Giving a play-by-play of his woes on Twitter, he wrote that a 2002 arrest was keeping him from the paper that would green-light his international travel.

The issue first came up in 2006, when Hunt was about to fight 400-pound boxer Eric “Butterbean” Esch in PRIDE. Now, with the winner of his fight likely to get a UFC title shot, the timing couldn’t be worse.

When Hunt, 39, first began racking up airline miles to the USA, a title shot would’ve been inconceivable to perhaps everyone but him. He was a 36-year-old MMA journeyman with an iron jaw and 5-6 pro record, and his résumé didn’t exactly scream contender.

But Hunt has an improbable streak of four consecutive wins (three via knockout) after a defeat in his UFC debut, and fans have made plenty of noise about giving the amiable “Super Samoan” his chance. And Hunt is ready to capitalize.

“If I can beat Junior, it should put me into the No.1 spot,” he said.

Sunday, after reassurances from UFC officials, who employed an immigration specialist to tackle the fighter’s visa problem, and speculation about whether popular Roy Nelson would step in for a rematch against dos Santos, Hunt tweeted that his ordeal finally was over. “Thank u for my visa father,” he said.

The question is whether the travel issues will affect his fight. If he’s feeling like he did in a previous trip to the USA, he might be less than 100%.

“I fought in Vegas once before, and I went out there four days out (from) the fight, and that was quite tiring because I was going to sleep at 6 in the morning American time and everyone else was waking up,” he said.

Then again, he is used to adjusting his body to different time zones. And regardless of whether he’s sleepy or not, his fists still work fine.

The incident is a reminder to keep his nose clean. More than ever, he has a lot to win — and lose.

Marrocco also writes for MMAjunkie.com

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

JARAGUA DO SUL, Brazil – The young dinosaur continues to put away young lions.

Known for his lightning-fast hands, former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Vitor Belfort shocked ex-Strikeforce titleholder Luke Rockhold with a wheel kick before fully removing him from consciousness in the first round.

The middleweight bout headlined Saturday’s UFC on FX 8 event at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. It aired on FX following prelims on FX and Facebook.

Belfort’s highlight-reel performance marked the second time he’s used a kick to bring a fight to a swift halt. In his previous outing, he dispatched top contender Michael Bisping with a head kick and punches.

Like Bisping, Rockhold (10-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who relinquished his Strikeforce belt when the promotion folded shop earlier this year, hoped to cement his status as a UFC contender. Instead, he found himself a victim of pinpoint striking from Belfort (23-10 MMA, 12-6 UFC) when referee Leon Roberts waved off the fight at the 2:32 mark of the first round.

“The Phenom,” who months prior to the fight was told he needed several knockout wins to get another title shot at Anderson Silva’s belt, declined to use his victory to ask the UFC to reconsider. But the promotion may end up doing just that.

“I’m here to fight,” he told the cheering crowd. “I don’t pick fights. I accept fights.”

Rockhold was a slight betting favorite heading into the headliner, which ended a contentious buildup between the middleweights. Rockhold blasted Belfort’s use of doctor-prescribed testosterone and got in Belfort’s face at the weigh-ins.

But afterward, he gave Belfort respect.

“He landed a spinning heel kick to the head,” Rockhold said. “Kudos to him.”

Belfort attempted the kick he used to end the fight early in the first frame, but Rockhold managed to elude it. The Strikeforce vet shot early for a takedown but was rebuffed. The two continued to snipe at each other before Belfort’s sudden explosion.

Belfort now boasts back-to-back victories in the middleweight division following an unsuccessful attempt at light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones’ belt. Rockhold, who hadn’t fought in 10 months prior to UFC on FX 8, sees a nine-fight win streak snapped.

The full UFC on FX 8 results included:

Vitor Belfort def. Luke Rockhold via knockout (strikes) – Round 1, 2:32

Ronaldo Souza def. Chris Camozzi via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:37

Rafael dos Anjos def. Evan Dunham via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Rafael Natal def. Joao Zeferino via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)

Nik Lentz def. Hacran Dias via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)

Francisco Trinaldo def. Mike Rio via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:08

Gleison Tibau def. John Cholish via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:34

Paulo Thiago def. Michel Prazeres via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Yuri Alcantara def. Iliarde Santos via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:31

Fabio Maldonado def. Roger Hollett via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-27)

John Lineker def. Azamat Gashimov via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 1:07

Jussier Formiga def. Chris Cariaso via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Lucas Martins def. Jeremy Larsen via KO (punch) – Round 3, 0:13

John Morgan contributed to this report on-site in Jaragua do Sul. Marrocco writes for MMAJunkie, a USA TODAY Sports Media Group affiliate.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.