Mark Hunt's one-punch KO of a former heavyweight champ the highlight of UFC Brisbane

MARK HUNT’S TILT at the heavyweight division continued last night as he recorded his second straight knockout at UFC Fight Night 85 in Brisbane.

The New Zealander floored Frank Mir with a thunderous right hand just after the three minute mark of the first round.

The heavyweight bout headlined Saturday’s main card at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and was dominated by Hunt as he struck early to send his opponent crashing to the canvas.

The pair traded blows during the opening exchanges but Hunt quickly stamped his authority on the fight with a trademark strike which caught Mir right behind the ear.

Meanwhile, Neil Magny said the referee should have stepped in earlier during his big win over Hector Lombard in their welterweight co-main event in Brisbane.

Magny survived an early scare to land 142 strikes in the second round and seize control of the bout.

But despite being subjected to blow after blow, Lombard was allowed stay in the contest until the end of the round by referee Steve Perceval.

On the restart, Magny simply had too much for Lombard as he was taken down early in the third round.

“As much as we’re in this sport to win or whatever, it’s hard to sit there and put that kind of damage on a guy and not have it stopped,” Magny said afterwards at the post-fight press conference.

“The ref is in there to protect the fighter, and he wasn’t in a position to protect himself at all. The ref should have stepped in earlier, I thought, but that’s not my job. I guess I just keep fighting. I don’t know.”