MMA legend reportedly banned from UFC events after recent arrest

A leaked list shared by Dillon Danis this week seemingly revealed that Hunt has been banned from attending UFC events, placing the New Zealand-born heavyweight alongside Danis and internet personality Sneako on a list of restricted individuals.

For longtime MMA fans, it’s a strange image to process.

Hunt’s UFC relationship has been broken for years

Mark Hunt was chaos in heavyweight form. One night he’d flatten someone with a single right hand, the next he’d unload on the UFC itself during interviews without caring who got offended.

That’s why fans loved him.

The former PRIDE star earned respect the hard way. Not through hype or trash talk, but by walking through punches that would’ve dropped most heavyweights. His knockout of Frank Mir still gets replayed today, and the five-round war with Antônio “Bigfoot” Silva remains one of the wildest fights ever seen in the division.

Things changed after UFC 200.

Hunt never accepted how the UFC handled Brock Lesnar’s failed drug test following their fight. He went after the promotion publicly, then in court, accusing the UFC of knowingly allowing Lesnar to compete despite concerns around performance-enhancing drugs. The lawsuit dragged on for years before eventually being dismissed, as reported by ESPN.

From that moment on, the relationship between Hunt and the UFC looked beyond repair.

Arrest in Australia adds new controversy

The reported ban surfaced shortly after Hunt’s recent arrest in New South Wales, Australia.

Authorities allegedly took the 52-year-old into custody after threatening messages were sent during an argument with a woman connected to him personally. Hunt was initially denied bail before later being released under conditions.

The heavyweight addressed the situation himself on social media, insisting no physical violence ever occurred.

Watching the video, Hunt looked exhausted more than angry. His voice cracked at moments while describing the incident, repeatedly stressing that he never laid hands on anyone. He framed the situation as a heated argument tied partly to frustrations surrounding his ongoing legal issues.

According to Australia’s ABC News reporting on the arrest, Hunt remains under investigation while legal proceedings continue.

Dillon Danis leak sparks online storm

The controversy exploded further when Dillon Danis shared an image on Instagram that appeared to show photos and names of people barred from entering UFC venues.

Danis himself appeared on the document, likely tied to his role in the Madison Square Garden brawl last year. Sneako’s name also surfaced after the streamer previously claimed UFC security blocked him from entering events.

Hunt’s inclusion surprised many fans the most.

The former K-1 and UFC veteran hasn’t fought inside the Octagon in years, but he remains hugely respected among old-school MMA audiences. Seeing his name attached to a banned list felt surreal for fighters who shared locker rooms with him during the PRIDE and early UFC heavyweight eras.

FSI247 recently covered Dillon Danis and the leaked UFC ban list, which added even more fuel to the online reaction.

The UFC itself has not publicly confirmed the authenticity of the list.

Still, the timing doesn’t feel accidental.

And for Mark Hunt, another ugly chapter has now been added to one of the strangest post-fighting stories in MMA history.