Mark Hunt Taken By Surprise By MMAJunkie Reporter

If you are curious as to how Mark Hunt found out about Bigfoot Silva’s failed drug test, well, he was awoken by MMAJunkie reporter Steven Morracco for a statement, which he seemed taken a bit off-guard by, but was happy to hear that he had an additional $50,000 coming his way. [quote]

“S–t, I need to get on some of this s–t. F–k, I don’t know how these guys are doing this s–t. I should get some of that s–t, too.

“That’s news to me. I haven’t heard anything of it. I don’t know what to say, honestly. I don’t know what it is, but kudos to me for the bonus, eh?”

The story kind of doesn’t end there, though. Mark Hunt claims that he didn’t know it was an interview and that it was going to be used as quotations for a story. [quote]

I get woken up by a reporter he tells me all sorts of rubbish about the fight.u asshole reporter don’t ever ring me again I didn’t know u was recording a interview.u better lose my phone number u Steven marrocco from mma junkie don’t Eva ring me again and pull that bullcrap u never said it was a interview.

Marracco then took to Twitter to defend himself, claiming that Mark Hunt never stated that this was off-the-record.

 

Now, here’s the thing. When it comes to talking to a fighter about something sensitive it is a matter of trust. They’ll give you quotes and news on their own free will (ie, outside of UFC’s PR setting up the interview) if you are honest and open with them, but doing something like this is a good way to upset a fighter and make him not trust the reporter or the site ever again. It seems a bit in bad form, but we all make mistakes now and then.