MARK Hunt has hinted at a return to the Octagon for UFC 200, revealing UFC president Dana White has given him a personal directive to “stay ready”.

Speaking with Round 6, Hunt explained how he had phoned White last week to discuss fighting at UFC 205 in November — which also doubles as the company’s hyped debut at Madison Square Garden, New York.

The UFC president, however, wants the cult heavyweight ready much sooner.

media_camera Hunt has won his last two fights inside the first round?

“I asked Dana about New York but he has other plans,’’ Hunt said. “Wants me fighting sooner.

“I’ve only just got back in the gym but my body is feeling good. So it could be UFC 200, who knows?”

Currently, star heavyweights Cain Velasquez and Travis Browne are slated to fight at UFC 200 on July 9.

Velasquez has a long history of being injured in preparations, with Hunt having previously taken his place in a 2014 title fight against Fabricio Werdum.

Pushed on whether White had mentioned him fighting specifically on the Las Vegas blockbuster, Hunt continued: “Look, I’m just the good ‘ol employee, Mr Hunt.

“So I’m not allowed to say anything. But I have been told to be ready.

“It’s all a bit hard to follow at the moment but it seems I could be that fill in guy somewhere.

“You know, when somebody has a problem you call me. Mr Reliable.

“I’ll take a fight on a couple of days notice ... (laughs) even if it means a thrashing.”

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And so we wait.

After demolishing future Hall of Famer Frank Mir in March — thanks to a spectacular first round ‘Walk Off’ KO — Hunt insists he wants a rival ranked within the division’s top five.

But as for who?

“All of them,’’ he laughs. “When I spoke with Dana I requested every one of the top five guys. One after the other.

“I said ‘how about him, or him, or him’. This will be my last run. I’ve got six fights left and I want another shot at that title.”

media_camera Hunt knocked out Frank Mir in March.

STERLING SOUNDS OFF ON CARAWAY

ALJAMAIN Sterling returns to the Octagon this Monday (AEST) to take on fellow top ten bantamweight Bryan Caraway and the flamboyant 26-year old has made no secret of his distaste for his opponent.

“Caraway is disliked for many reasons.

“I just don’t like the guy because I think as a person he just sucks. I think he’s a great competitor and I respect him for that but outside of that there’s no love lost between me and him.

“I know he wants to punch me in the face badly.

“He wants to punch me in the face, I want to kick him in the face.

“I got the fight I wanted, I poked the bear and I got him to bite. I wanted the challenge, I wanted the test. I got Bryan right where I want him and hopefully I’m as good as I believe I am.

Sterling, who has three straight wins via stoppage, is as colourful a character as you’ll find.

He’s waged a one-man war on Caraway for months, first in an effort to get the fight and then to drum up as much interest as possible, and Sterling admits the trash talking is something he enjoys.

“Like when you’re playing pick-up basketball and the guy’s just talking shit to you while he’s trying to hit a crossover and he’s telling you you’re not better than him and next thing you know he steals the ball cause you’re frustrated and he’s getting inside your head.

“It builds up the fight and it makes me train harder because I know I talk a lot of shit and it makes me work harder because I know I don’t want to become a meme.

“I don’t want people tagging me in (crying) Jordan posts.”

Photobomb w/my boy @BryanCaraway! I'm gonna say he didnt want to look at me or say thanks for wishing him luck on Sunday. #HowRude #4Days #vegas #HeWasntEntertained A video posted by Aljamain Sterling (@funkmaster_ufc) on May 26, 2016 at 9:44am PDT

STILL on Sterling, and while the trash talk has dominated headlines and interviews in the lead up to the fight “The Funkmaster” says self-promotion is something all fighters should embrace.

“At the end of the day you want people to care about you as a person and you want people to be somewhat invested in you and want to watch you fight.

“If no one wants to see you lose and no one wants to see you fight at all then you’re kind of in that grey area, in that void where nobody really gives a shit.

“You want people either to hate you or you want them to like you, they either want to watch you succeed or watch you lose.”

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