In under a weeks notice Harry Hunsucker (7-3) will make his UFC debut. He just fought nearly three weeks ago and won inside one minute earning the HR MMA Heavyweight Championship. He fought last summer on the “Contender Series” and lost to Jared Vanderaa. Now the 32-year-old finds a way into the promotion by stepping in for Don’Tale Mayes, who had to withdraw from the fight a few days back.
Shawn Bitter
Grade: D+
If you look at his build, being 32, and training out of Kentucky, Hunsucker is actually better than he looks on paper. What Hunsucker does well from the start of the fight is that he brings the heat, throwing nothing but bombs. He throws big powerful hooks and heavy leg kicks. He has decent wrestling and has three submission wins. As a pro, he’s never been out of the first-round win or loss. The combined record of the opponents he has beat is 32-48, with just two fighters sporting a winning record — barely.
The thing is, once he’s fought someone at the same level as him, Hunsucker has fallen short. He’s exciting and will bring it every time but he’s not going to find the same guys he’s beat in Kentucky in the UFC.
Out Within 1-2 Years
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A Mainstay Through the Years
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Champion
Zac Herbison
Grade: D
Hunsucker is a first-round finish kind of guy. Surprisingly, they aren’t all KOs, either. He shoots for takedowns, and he’s finished fights via kimura, americana, rear-naked choke, and a keylock. That’s pretty rare for a regional heavyweight. He also hits very hard. That being said, he’s 6’2 and gets KO’d easily. He seems to have a bad chin and throws wild, sloppy punches. I don’t see him lasting long in the UFC.
Out Within 1-2 Years
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Bonus Winner
A Mainstay Through the Years
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Title Contender
Champion
Tom Albano
Grade: C-
Hunsucker is a highly entertaining brawler and has a great ability to finish the fight quickly. All of his wins have come via first-round finish, some by KO/TKO, some by submission. But when you look at the level of competition he’s facing and then compare that to him taking on the likes of Vanderaa and Tuivasa, the seven wins have to come with some skepticism. And while he’s pulled off submission wins, it seems when he gets taken down and troubled on the mat, he ends up folding fairly easily.
There are always some things to get excited about when you see a heavyweight that loves to throw down and can finish quick — especially when they have a great personality. But those things only get you so far without a good ground game to complement the striking and failing to take the step up against better competition and win.
Out Within 1-2 Years
50/50 Winner
Bonus Winner
A Mainstay Through the Years
Top 15
Top 10
Top 5
Title Contender
Champion