UFC's Mark Hunt and Josh Barnett are apparently ready for a rematch

More than eight years after their first meeting, UFC heavyweights Mark Hunt and Josh Barnett appear ready for a rematch.

Following his knockout win over Roy Nelson this past weekend in UFC Fight Night 52’s headliner, Hunt (10-8-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) and former foe Barnett (33-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC) took to social media to discuss the potential bout.

Hunt, who’s ranked No. 7 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA heavyweight rankings, suffered a submission loss to No. 5 Barnett at PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute in July 2006. Barnett said he knows why Hunt wants the rematch and that he respects him because of it (via Twitter):

He then said he’s open to matchup, which was good news to Hunt (via Twitter):

They then took the pitch to UFC executives (via Twitter)

Soon after his Sept. 20 win over Nelson, which halted a two-fight winless (0-1-1) skid, Hunt said he wanted to fight again in seven weeks at UFC Fight Night 55 in Sydney. The Australian-based New Zealander said he wanted a spot on the card, ideally against a fellow top-10 opponent, to continue his run at the belt.

“My purpose is fighting for a title,” Hunt, 40, said. “Fighting someone outside of the top 10? It makes me go backward.

“But hey, of course I would consider fighting someone outside of the top 10 if it was in Sydney.”

Barnett, 36, hasn’t fought since a December 2013 loss to Travis Browne. The early UFC heavyweight champion was on a 10-1 run before the setback.

For more on UFC Fight Night 55, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Josh Barnett)