UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt could be back in hospital with staph complications

UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt is still suffering the effects of his most recent appearance in the octagon.

More than a month after a knockout loss to ex-champ Junior dos Santos at UFC 160, the 39-year-old New Zealander, who lives in Australia, said today that he’ll likely return to the hospital next week after a failed skin graft treatment.

Hunt (9-8 MMA, 4-2 UFC) received the graft when a hematoma he sustained in the fight became infected with staph, a bacterial disease common to fighters that can be fatal if untreated.

“The skin graph (sic) didnt survive, and i think i will be back in hospital next week,” Hunt wrote on his Facebook page.

Hunt was unavailable for comment when contacted today by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), but expressed hope at resolving the situation.

“i hope i dont have to go hospital, but we will see i see plastic surgeon tuesday,” he wrote. “Didnt realise how bad this is man. Anyways troops will keep u guys informed.”

“The Super Samoan” got the biggest opportunity of his UFC career with the dos Santos fight, which came after an improbable four-fight win streak that put him on the short list for a title shot.

Prior to the surge, Hunt was mostly written off by fans and the UFC, which allowed him to fulfill the final obligation of a contract it acquired in the buyout of PRIDE, where he previously fought.

For complete coverage of UFC 160, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.