Well....This is going to be very interesting.

In my opinion, the last time they met was the best I have ever seen Jerome and Mark Hunt still won.

Since the K-1 Grand Prix, Mark had 1 win to Nakasako and a lost Mirko Tiger. After those two outings, there are couple of questions popped up :

a) Was Mark Hunt's victory at the K-1 Grand Prix 2001 a fluke?
Well....I don't think it was a fluke. Mark had the right style to beat the opponents he was lined up against during the grand prix.

b) Both Nakasako and Mirko dropped Hunt with high kicks. Does this means that Mark has a real weakness in defending against high kicks? No...I believe that Ernesto Hoost is still the best high kicker at K-1 (especially setting it up) and Mark wasn't troubled too much with Hoost's kicks.

I believe that Mark Hunt is a big match type of fighter. In a way, he is a bit like Hoost. Hoost used to have ordinary performances during the year (and even got KO a few times in the past) but when comes the big one that counts at later on the year, he is a total different fighter. I'm not taking anything from Peter Graham, but Hunt lost to him after the Oceania K-1. However, when the big fight comes, Mark improves his performanced 300%.

I believe that Mark suffered (temporarily)from overnight stardom syndrome. It's not often you see a young fighter who most of his career took fights at short noticed and usually fight for under 4 figures $$, to become millionaire instantly. I can almost feel what he might be going through right now. He would have lots of false friends (as well as true friends of course). Relatives and old friends who he hasn't seen in a while would want to get in touch with him. He would be mobbed everywhere he goes in Japan, not to mention newspaper, magazines and TV etc. etc. I think his feet wasn't fully touched the ground when he fought Nakasako and Mirko. I truely believe that his last lost to Mirko has helped to fully planted his feet on the ground. I can see Mark focus a lot better now than his first two fights after the Grand Prix. Mark would treat the importance of fight like the grand prix. I also realise that a lot of people think that the pressure is on Mark. I think not. I think the pressure is more on Jerome Le Banner. He was the one who requested the bout. The fight is on his home town so he must performs. If Le Banner tries too hard to please his fans and going for the KO, It will be the quickest way to get himself KOed. However, I have a suspicious feeling that perhaps Le Banner would lurk on the outside and draws Mark in. If so, he would win on points but we'll see one hell of a boring fight.