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9. Hunt’s Atomic Butt Drop
Pride Shockwave 2004
Dec. 31, 2004 | Saitama, Japan
Back in 2004, Wanderlei Silva had a strong claim to being the greatest fighter on the face of the planet. He had compiled an 18-fight unbeaten streak while cutting a swathe of devastation through the deep and dangerous Pride Fighting Championships middleweight division, laying waste to his competition with knees, soccer kicks and barrages of brutal hooks.

“The Axe Murderer” was in fine fettle and on top of the world. He was scheduled for a fourth matchup with the venerable Kazushi Sakuraba at Pride Shockwave 2004, a high-profile and intriguing fight despite the fact that Silva had finished him in vicious fashion in all three of their previous meetings. Unfortunately, Sakuraba was forced to pull out with an injury, and Pride was left scrambling for a replacement.

Enter MarkHunt, a 270-pound former K-1 kickboxing champion in the process of transitioning to a career in mixed martial arts. Hunt was available and perfectly down to go to war with Silva; both men agreed, and the fight was on. Despite Silva’s greater familiarity with grappling and wrestling, Hunt’s sheer size, strength and power wore on the Brazilian. In a moment that sums up early-career Hunt’s indifference to good sense, logic or a systematic approach, along with his freakish athleticism, he launched himself into the air over a prone Silva and attempted what can only be described as the “atomic butt drop.”

There is to offer here in terms of technical analysis or the broader meaning of the technique. Just enjoy the sight of Hunt being Hunt in the purest way possible.

Number 8 » Wheel Kick