Fresh from his impressive knockout victory over Roy "Big Country" Nelson, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Mark "The Super Samoan" Hunt was surprisingly dubbed as a rich fighter by the New Zealand Herald.

The Herald recently wrote an article identifying the 20 richest athletes in New Zealand. The article, to be released in parts, first spoke of five athletes.

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The athletes included Cricket players Ross Taylor (US $930,000) and Daniel Vettori (US $840,000), Rugby player Carl Hayman (US $820,000), and jockey James McDonald (US $800,000).

The 17^th athlete on the list is Hunt, stating that he gains US $890,000. The article went on to say that Hunt is, "New Zealand's biggest name involved in the world's fastest growing sport."

They continue to talk about how he recently re-singed a six-fight deal with the UFC worth US $350,000 per fight, whether it's a win, lose, or, draw.

They also added the opportunities to win bonuses worth US $50,000, a feat that Hunt has done in four out of his six recent fights.

While it isn't impossible to make a lot of money in the UFC - combined with the fact that he is now a top five heavyweight - Hunt himself wonders why he is on the list.

Hunt recently commented that unless a fighter is a champion, fighters in the UFC usually get paid an average amount.

Hunt may well be on the way to the belt though. After the beautifully timed uppercut that knocked out Nelson, a feat never before done in the UFC, the Samoan is one step closer to challenging UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.

As far as the UFC operates, one more impressive victory could give Hunt a title shot. He has expressed interest in facing Josh Barnett to avenge a loss, and even Junior Dos Santos.

TagsUFC, New Zealand Herald, Mark Hunt, Roy Nelson