Mark Hunt could make his return to the UFC against Alistair Overeem.

Mark Hunt may be on his way back to the UFC it's just that the news took a little longer to reach him than it should have.

ESPN on Wednesday revealed the Kiwi mixed martial arts star would fight Dutch heavyweight Alistair Overeem at UFC 209 on March 5 (NZ time).

But when contacted by Stuff Hunt had yet to be informed of the announcement.

"I have no idea who's announcing what," Hunt said.

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"It sucks when you don't even know that you're fighting and they're already putting s... out there."

A UFC spokesman confirmed Hunt had at that stage not received the word from his manager.

In a report on MarkHunt.tv, the 42-year-old said he would fight Overeem so long as a clause was inserted in his contract that would award him the Dutchman's earnings should he fail a drug test.

Although, the UFC has not yet commented on Hunt's contractual demands.

"My clause will protect me in this instance and take the financial gain of the opponent of caught cheating," he said.

"That deterrent will protect me and other fighters. I'm pushing for this clause, I want to fight and I am ready. If the fight doesn't go ahead it's not my doing."

Asked if he was prepared to fight without the clause, Hunt emphatically ruled it out.

"I've already fought three dopers in a row and I'm not going to fight again without security," he told MarkHunt.tv. "All I want is a fair go and an even playing field."

The 'Super Samoan' hasn't stepped inside the octagon since his controversial defeat to Brock Lesnar at UFC 200, which was recently overturned to a no-contest after the WWE star tested positive to performing-enhancing drugs.

Lesnar was also suspended for one year and fined US$250,000 ($360,000).

Furious at fighting drug cheats - previous opponents Frank Mir and Antonio Silva also tested positive - Hunt sought legal advice and turned down two fights as he demanded the UFC get tougher on doping violations.

Overeem is an interesting choice given he failed a pre-fight drug test in April 2012 and was removed from the title bout against Junior dos Santos.

He appealed the decision to suspend him and claimed the positive test was the result of a prescribed anti-inflammatory medication that was mixed with testosterone. Although, the Nevada State Athletic Commission voted to deny his application status for nine months.

While the doping issue remains a major sticking point, victory over the 36-year-old could very well put the seventh-ranked Hunt (12-10-1) back in the title conversation.

Overeem (41-5) is ranked third in the division and won four-straight fights before suffering a first-round knockout defeat to heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in September.

Both former K1 world champions, Hunt and Overeem have met once before in the now-defunct Dream promotion in Japan in 2008, with the latter claiming a first round submission.

But Hunt is confident of avenging that result should the fight go ahead.

"Overeem was one of my losses over a seven fight losing streak when I was fighting battles outside the ring as well as inside, " he told MarkHunt.tv.

"I couldn't have beaten a wooden chair at that time in my life. I've never lost a rematch and I'm not about to."