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Born To Fight: The bestselling story of UFC champion Mark Hunt, the real life Rocky
‘There's more than a few instances in this biography of UFC cult favourite Mark Hunt that make you shake your head in can't-make-this-stuff-up disbelief’ - Inside SportA powerful story of sadness, hope, pride, honour and triumph from the real-life Rocky!Raw, confronting and honest, UFC champion Mark Hunt's inspiring autobiography shows it is possible to defy the odds and carve a better life. Born into a Mormon Samoan family, Hunt details his harrowing early life, his troubled teen years, and his angry youth with no apparent future.After being plucked from an Auckland street fight and dropped into his first kickboxing bout, Mark went on to achieve unprecedented success in Australian and New Zealand combat sports. In an ongoing career that has spanned the globe, Mark Hunt has been in some of the UFC, Pride and K-1's most memorable battles. But in some ways those fights pale in comparison to that which he has overcome out of the ring and cage.As fearless with his opinions as he is in the Octagon, Mark pulls no punches in revealing the highs and lows of his extraordinary life.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2015
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497 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 22, 2017
An amazing book by an amazing man and fighter.
"He proved us wrong, he proved everyone who doubted him wrong. He (Hunt) is the greatest story in sports today." Dana White, UFC President.
Dana is right Mark Hunt has surpassed every expectation anyone ever had of him. It is a stigma that fighters come (especially great fighters) come damaged backgrounds. Unfortunately in Mark's case it is true. Growing up in an abusive family, where crime was the only way out. Mark did not Martial Arts Sansei to teach him how to fight he knew how to fight.
Over the years he had support and help from key people, but one thing never changed anyone anytime. As long as his opponent had 2 arms and 2 legs Mark Hunt knew he could knock them out. Mark is known for his exciting fighting style, and respected for taking on anyone. Though over the years he has learned to make sure they pay him what he is worth. His book and story are every bit as exciting, heart wrenching at time.
Marks talks honestly and openly about his success and failures. His demons and the angels. His family/friends and betrayals. Their is a message in the book about being willing to talk about you problems, not giving into the rage of holding everything in. As much as I was a fan of Mark Hunt before reading this book, I have ten time the respect for Mark Hunt the man not just the fighter. This is an amazing story, of not just survival but thriving, and Mark's story is not over yet. "Gammon" get this book now.
"He proved us wrong, he proved everyone who doubted him wrong. He (Hunt) is the greatest story in sports today." Dana White, UFC President.
Dana is right Mark Hunt has surpassed every expectation anyone ever had of him. It is a stigma that fighters come (especially great fighters) come damaged backgrounds. Unfortunately in Mark's case it is true. Growing up in an abusive family, where crime was the only way out. Mark did not Martial Arts Sansei to teach him how to fight he knew how to fight.
Over the years he had support and help from key people, but one thing never changed anyone anytime. As long as his opponent had 2 arms and 2 legs Mark Hunt knew he could knock them out. Mark is known for his exciting fighting style, and respected for taking on anyone. Though over the years he has learned to make sure they pay him what he is worth. His book and story are every bit as exciting, heart wrenching at time.
Marks talks honestly and openly about his success and failures. His demons and the angels. His family/friends and betrayals. Their is a message in the book about being willing to talk about you problems, not giving into the rage of holding everything in. As much as I was a fan of Mark Hunt before reading this book, I have ten time the respect for Mark Hunt the man not just the fighter. This is an amazing story, of not just survival but thriving, and Mark's story is not over yet. "Gammon" get this book now.
October 4, 2015
An Awesome Page-Turner
Inspiring and harrowing, a compelling insight into how Mark Hunt survived a childhood of abuse, hunger and hatred to become one of the greatest fighters and a great father.
Inspiring and harrowing, a compelling insight into how Mark Hunt survived a childhood of abuse, hunger and hatred to become one of the greatest fighters and a great father.
January 10, 2016
Autobiography for 2016 list read. Hovering between 3 and 4 stars but rated four for his raw honesty and lack of pretence. This guy is undoubtably a champion for all that he has conquered in his life, battling so much more than anything we could imagine facing let alone overcoming.
December 27, 2023
Read in a day. So much respect for Mark after reading this. You just never know what people have gone through. Very raw and inspiring.
January 28, 2024
Hard read, but bloody good.
March 13, 2016
What an incredible read this book has been! I have always admired the Fighter known as Mark Hunt but after reading this book, seeing the horror he had to go through to the triumphs I have the utmost respect for this bad-ass! Mark hunt you are my hero! And the best part is that I got the opportunity to meet Mark Hunt when he was training at AKA Thailand! Sir thank you for this book. Waiting for you to one day soon become the Champion! Gummon! :-)
October 6, 2015
Excellent read.
January 29, 2021
Mark tells his life story in a very direct, to the point style, that makes his autobiography a quick and easy read. His account of his childhood is infamously harrowing, and his process of struggling with his emotional trauma during his tumultuous, young-adult years makes for a great story. The book is strongest during Mark's journey from being the "punching bag of Oceania", to reaching the peak of combat sport superstardom in Japan, a journey that defies all odds, and is laden with meth-fueled, total violence and glimpses into the Japanese criminal underbelly. It's a fascinating and heartening tale, in which Hunt struggles with addictions and mental health crises as much as he does with any opponent.
I do wish that the book contained more detailed descriptions of Hunt's fights, especially his iconic bouts versus the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson, Cro Cop and Bigfoot Silva. The descriptions of these fights are much too brief, sometimes being surmised in a page, sometimes in a sentence. I also found the description of Mark's UFC run too short, and would have preferred that he go into more detail. This is by no means a tell-all autobiography, Mark holds back and insinuates constantly, usually due to an inability to reveal contractual information. This is frustrating, and leaves the story feeling, in some parts, incomplete.
Still, this is a solid and enjoyable read that I would suggest to any fan of MMA, especially any fan of Pride FC, and Mark Hunt himself. For those with only a tertiary interest in the sport, however, this one may be a bit of a grind.
I do wish that the book contained more detailed descriptions of Hunt's fights, especially his iconic bouts versus the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson, Cro Cop and Bigfoot Silva. The descriptions of these fights are much too brief, sometimes being surmised in a page, sometimes in a sentence. I also found the description of Mark's UFC run too short, and would have preferred that he go into more detail. This is by no means a tell-all autobiography, Mark holds back and insinuates constantly, usually due to an inability to reveal contractual information. This is frustrating, and leaves the story feeling, in some parts, incomplete.
Still, this is a solid and enjoyable read that I would suggest to any fan of MMA, especially any fan of Pride FC, and Mark Hunt himself. For those with only a tertiary interest in the sport, however, this one may be a bit of a grind.
March 25, 2025
🦆 Snap Review:
Born to Fight felt like Mark Hunt plopped down next to me on a couch, handed me a cold drink, and just started laying out his whole life — no filter, no fluff. It’s raw, it’s real, and sometimes it hits like a left hook to the gut. You’re not just reading about fights—you feel them, and I kept pausing chapters just to go find old footage and watch the chaos unfold.
This isn't just a fighter’s biography—it’s a gritty, emotional rollercoaster of survival, anger, redemption, and uppercuts.
Also, not to be dramatic, but I would absolutely not want to owe this man money.
🦆 Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Quacks 🦆🦆🦆🦆✨
(Raw, powerful, and full of fight—literally and emotionally. Quacked off half a point because it made me want to start a bar fight I’d immediately lose.)
🦆 Mood:
💢🔥🥊 Duck in the ring with something to prove.
🦆 Current Thoughts:
Mark Hunt's story really sticks with you. It's not polished or PR-perfect—it’s brutally honest. The kind of book that makes you respect the fight outside the octagon just as much as the ones inside it. If you like underdog stories with teeth (and flying knees), Born to Fight is a must-read.
Born to Fight felt like Mark Hunt plopped down next to me on a couch, handed me a cold drink, and just started laying out his whole life — no filter, no fluff. It’s raw, it’s real, and sometimes it hits like a left hook to the gut. You’re not just reading about fights—you feel them, and I kept pausing chapters just to go find old footage and watch the chaos unfold.
This isn't just a fighter’s biography—it’s a gritty, emotional rollercoaster of survival, anger, redemption, and uppercuts.
Also, not to be dramatic, but I would absolutely not want to owe this man money.
🦆 Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Quacks 🦆🦆🦆🦆✨
(Raw, powerful, and full of fight—literally and emotionally. Quacked off half a point because it made me want to start a bar fight I’d immediately lose.)
🦆 Mood:
💢🔥🥊 Duck in the ring with something to prove.
🦆 Current Thoughts:
Mark Hunt's story really sticks with you. It's not polished or PR-perfect—it’s brutally honest. The kind of book that makes you respect the fight outside the octagon just as much as the ones inside it. If you like underdog stories with teeth (and flying knees), Born to Fight is a must-read.
June 23, 2024
Mark Hunt's origin story is brutal.
The book is set up in a way that makes you think this might be an easy read.
However, I had to take a few moments to fully appreciate what Hunt was describing.
There are two things that stayed with me from reading this book: the realization that Hunt was a fearless street fighter with natural abilities.. and the fact that his parents were incredibly cruel to their kids. Hunt's childhood story alone is truly bonkers and his fighting career takes this story to another level.
I felt the need to look up highlights from Hunt's K1-, Pride-, and UFC-career while reading the book.
The only negative thing I have to say about this book is that the story is hardly finished when the book is done. Hunt still has a lot to show and this book will not be able to capture all of that. Still, I highly recommend this book. It will make you look at professional fighting from a completely fearless point of view.
The book is set up in a way that makes you think this might be an easy read.
However, I had to take a few moments to fully appreciate what Hunt was describing.
There are two things that stayed with me from reading this book: the realization that Hunt was a fearless street fighter with natural abilities.. and the fact that his parents were incredibly cruel to their kids. Hunt's childhood story alone is truly bonkers and his fighting career takes this story to another level.
I felt the need to look up highlights from Hunt's K1-, Pride-, and UFC-career while reading the book.
The only negative thing I have to say about this book is that the story is hardly finished when the book is done. Hunt still has a lot to show and this book will not be able to capture all of that. Still, I highly recommend this book. It will make you look at professional fighting from a completely fearless point of view.
July 6, 2025
Very full on story that reminds you of the trauma UFC fighters typically have to go into a mental sport like MMA. Mark is a fighter through and through and has been his whole life, from his childhood and being abused by his father constantly, to street fighting and living a life of crime, to his enigmatic fight style getting him into the professional ranks. The stories of his K-1 and Pride days and wild and how the Japanese mafia was so heavily involved in those organisations. An imperfect story as he has had his challenges outside the octagon but his parts on his wife and her help were great reads, a loyal women who has dealt with Marks imperfections, even retrospectively ideas on this with his lawsuits against the UFC show a fighter trying to right the worlds wrongs even to his own detriment as david vs goliath.
Full on read but a good one.
Full on read but a good one.
August 8, 2023
I'm down from the far north for the birth of moko #3 and in front of me a bookshelf of memoirs and biographies. This book was on my radar years ago. I love reads from my own communities ie South Auckland, Măori, kids from shit backgrounds making good later in life. This read did not disappoint! A talent to fight, to win, to lose - Mark Hunt is a fighter. Easy to see the childhood pain of hunger abuse neglect rejection from detached parents coming through each punch and kick given and taken. There is the redemption of love and God and a second chance of parenting. An underworld of MMA and Muang Thai, fighters ripped off by management and promoters. I understood the hardness and wanted the softness for him, peace. Super Samoan.
June 26, 2017
A great insight into the modern day Cinderalla Man story that is Mark Hunt.
Battling through a dark upbringing to battling in the upper echelons of professional fighting, the roller coaster of Mark Hunt's life is revealed through his candid retelling of the last four decades of his life. Mark's struggles are far from over with a lawsuit against the UFC and one last run at MMA gold in him. I hope we'll see another installment where he can write openly about several situations that he was not at liberty to divulge.
This is not an overly challenging read but it is brutal, human and uplifting - much like Mark himself.
Battling through a dark upbringing to battling in the upper echelons of professional fighting, the roller coaster of Mark Hunt's life is revealed through his candid retelling of the last four decades of his life. Mark's struggles are far from over with a lawsuit against the UFC and one last run at MMA gold in him. I hope we'll see another installment where he can write openly about several situations that he was not at liberty to divulge.
This is not an overly challenging read but it is brutal, human and uplifting - much like Mark himself.
January 22, 2019
I really enjoyed the honest raw writing style. I felt like I could hear Mark talking. He's brave & honest revelations throughout the book were never overtly seasoned with bitterness or judgement, even when these feelings would be have challenging to avoid.
I'm not interested in fighting or MMA, yet I found this book to be compelling, opening a window into the mind and psyche of a man who has overcome incredible aversity ... and backed himself 100% all the way.
I'm not interested in fighting or MMA, yet I found this book to be compelling, opening a window into the mind and psyche of a man who has overcome incredible aversity ... and backed himself 100% all the way.
November 22, 2020
A deep dive into the tormented life of a fighting fan favourite, through his redemption from an anguished childhood into a devoted family man.
Without a doubt the best (and honest) Fighters Bio I have read.
I found the sections surrounding his childhood incredibly raw and honest, and in direct contrast to the soulless walk off knockout merchant people see on TV. I had a lot of respect for Mark as a fighter, after reading this I have a lot of respect for Mark as a Man.
Without a doubt the best (and honest) Fighters Bio I have read.
I found the sections surrounding his childhood incredibly raw and honest, and in direct contrast to the soulless walk off knockout merchant people see on TV. I had a lot of respect for Mark as a fighter, after reading this I have a lot of respect for Mark as a Man.
December 27, 2017
I have read plenty of MMA biographies but so far this is the one I have liked most. There's such honesty in this book that it's unfortunately rare to see it elsewhere. Mark Hunt will most likely never win any championship in MMA but his life has had such twists and turns that championship belts don't really matter. Kudos for Hunt for putting everything on paper.
February 9, 2018
Amazing story. Just made me respect Mark Hunt on a whole new level. The stuff he has had to battle outside of the cage is heavy, but it puts everything into perspective. He speaks about how telling his story has been therapeutic and I’m glad it’s not only helped him but has most likely helped numerous others also.
September 15, 2021
Very inspiring and good advise for us man to open up and go for counselling to sort out our stuff so we can be effictive in life. Didn't know the fight industry is so dark and bad to it's fighters. He has made NZ proud, thank you for sharing your story.
February 29, 2024
Really good read. He endured so much during his upbringing which shaped the man he grew up To be. I could not put this book down it was a roller coaster of emotions. A really good read and highly recommend.
July 3, 2017
A man with struggle written all over, able to achieve and conquer his inner and outer demons.
April 6, 2018
Great book
I love this guy. Great book. Feels like a conversation with Mark versus a story. Definitely one of my favorite fighters.
I love this guy. Great book. Feels like a conversation with Mark versus a story. Definitely one of my favorite fighters.
May 22, 2018
Pretty gripping account of Mark's life and tribulations throughout martial arts, addiction and more. One of my favorite fighters of all time, reading this made me respect him even more!
February 17, 2019
Good read for any mma/ufc/martial arts fan!
February 8, 2020
Probably the most raw autobiography you'll ever read.
February 26, 2020
Awesome book
July 22, 2020
Read this book in two sittings. Mark Hunt is a true warrior.
August 4, 2020
Raw and Honest
June 8, 2023
Very well written. Very sad story but conveyed beautifully. Enjoyed every part of it
July 27, 2023
Brutally honest, raw, heartfelt but most of all, inspiring.
July 20, 2024
Mark Hunt got that dog in him
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews