After a slick submission at PFC 51, the undefeated and versatile Zevan Hunt brings an assorted skill set and dangerous fight IQ to the “Contender Series” in the featured welterweight bout Tuesday Night.
By: Naomi “Mimi” Vazquez
Another familiar fighter is making his way to “Dana White’s Contender Series” with homegrown grit and the record to show for it.
Zevan “Cheese” Hunt is the #1 professional welterweight in Oklahoma, and he’s ready to put Choctaw on the map as he fights to earn a UFC contract. Hunt is an experienced martial artist with decades of expertise and an impressive set of finishes, coming in on the featured bout for Week 6.
Before Hunt got matched up with Mayton Perea for the bout, he debuted at Peak Fighting Championship and quickly became a household name. Here’s what Zevan Hunt brought to the Peak FC cage, and what he will be bringing to the table come Tuesday night.
Zevan Hunt’s Peak Fighting Championship Win
Photo by Jordan Post
For athletes like Hunt, Peak FC has become an important proving ground to turn regional success into something bigger — and proving his skills has always come naturally to the undefeated professional. Currently standing at 7-0, Hunt has the experience, confidence, and fighting intelligence to find the finish almost every single time, and to do so either on the feet or the ground.
His stacked record and long-time fight grind made for a compelling matchup against Devin Smyth at PFC 51, leading to what commentators called an “anti-climactic, climactic” finish. Hunt performed a Suloev Stretch to almost immediately submit Smyth. After taking Smyth’s back and securing the stretch, Hunt had to verbally tell the referee that Smyth was tapping, and the fight was called with a big smile on Hunt’s face and a wince of pain on Smyth’s.
Photo by Jordan Post
The crafty finish is what ultimately led to his call for the “Contender Series.” His strengths are vast, but here’s what Hunt was able to showcase in the 14 minutes he fought at PFC 51:
He has elite-level jiu-jitsu and submission instincts.
Hunt is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, and his grappling is intuitive.
Once the opportunity was there, he knew how to secure the stretch and immediately get the win without wasting time or draining his gas tank.
He demonstrates excellent fight IQ.
The Suloev Stretch itself is a fairly unusual submission that called for creativity and know-how.
He didn't rush the finish. Instead, he transitioned into what was available in the moment.
Hunt knew how to pick his opponent apart, who was also demonstrating elite jiu-jitsu skills, to ensure he gained control and an opportunity for a submission.
He takes opportunities, but won’t wait for them.
The submission wasn't a long, dramatic, or explosive sequence. As soon as he exploited the opening, the fight was essentially over.
Against Mayton Perea on Tuesday, maintaining observation and energetic action will be key.
He’s dangerous everywhere, truly.
The PFC 51 finish reinforces Hunt’s black belt status and jiu-jitsu background.
His length allows for his tricky maneuvers and masterful ground game.
His record backs this up too, with multiple submission victories throughout his professional career.
His extensive Muay Thai experience and nasty clinch work have led to an equal amount of TKO wins.
His relentless work ethic and discipline have made him impressively adaptable.
Because of the high-level expertise it took for Hunt to submit Smyth in the way he did, it’s no wonder why the call came in, setting up the fight of his career on Tuesday night. He proved himself worthy at Peak FC, and his performance will be hard to forget, regardless of the heights ahead for his MMA career.
What to Expect on Tuesday Night From Zevan Hunt
Photo by Jordan Post
Hunt’s performances are technical games with multiple answers. His ability to transition between striking and grappling gives him a dangerous amount of flexibility inside the cage, and options to claim a favorable outcome against the 26-year-old Ecuadorian. Here’s what spectators may expect from the featured bout on “Dana White’s Contender Series” this week between Hunt and Perea:
A composed, grounded approach from Hunt
Hunt taking time to read Perea's reactions or vulnerabilities and establish his range
A methodical approach to building the fight with striking and level changes
Pressure from Perea early on the feet, forcing Hunt to work off the back foot and react rather than dictate the pace
Hunt using Perea’s forward pressure to close the distance and create clinch, takedown or submission openings
Opportunistic grappling from Hunt, rather than stubborn force
A potential submission threat as the fight develops, especially if Hunt is able to wear Perea down, and isn’t taken aback by his forward pressure
A possible late-first or second-round shift if Hunt spends the opening minutes finding his rhythm, and the fight could become more favorable for him as he gets a better read on Perea's timing and tendencies
A second-round submission as Hunt’s expected outcome
The common thread is Hunt's malleability. He does not necessarily need the fight to unfold one specific way. If the striking is working, he can build there. If he’s in the clinch, he’ll go to work with his fierce knees. If a grappling exchange presents itself, his jiu-jitsu gives him another avenue. And if an opening appears for a finish, his record suggests he has the prowess to recognize it and capitalize.
Hunting for the Contract
Hunt's PFC 51 fight was the perfect prelude to his career's biggest opportunity. He walked into the Peak FC cage as a 6-0 prospect looking to prove that he belonged in bigger conversations. He left 7-0 and with more eyes on him than ever. Now, he gets the chance to prove he’s worth the watch again.
“Contender Series” has become one of the most direct routes for regional fighters to earn a UFC contract, highlighting thrilling fighters with tremendous talent and unstoppable drive. Hunt embodies those qualities and with the exact kind of résumé that makes the matchup compelling: undefeated, technically clever and capable of winning wherever the fight goes. This is the type of athlete who deserves a Tuesday night featured bout, and who will make his mark in any cage he finds himself in.
Peak FC was his last stop, and now it’s UFC or bust.
Learn more about Peak FC and our fighters, and catch Zevan Hunt on “Dana White’s Contender Series” live this Tuesday on Paramount+.
