Mark Hunt v Junior Dos Santos Mark Hunt (right) lands the knockout blow to the jaw of Stefan Struve in his most recent UFC victory. Photo: UFC/Getty Images Visa issues continue to leave Mark Hunt stranded in New Zealand just 10 days out from his career-shaping heavyweight bout at UFC 160 in Las Vegas. The Sydney-based fighter, booked to fight former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in the UFC 160 co-main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, has twice been prevented from boarding a flight to Las Vegas. His inability to obtain a visa relates to his arrest in the US back in 2002, when he spent New Year's night in jail for public intoxication. It's just frustrating, but what can you do? I can't do anything about it. It's not in my hands anymore. Speaking on a conference call this morning, Hunt said he was confident the issue would be resolved in the next few days. It's just some stupid misunderstanding, that's all that it is. I don't know really what it is, it's just something that happened a long time ago and it should be cleared up, so hopefully I can get out of here this week sometime - tomorrow, tonight, whenever hopefully," Hunt said. The only thing I got from the US consulate was, 'we'll call you'. He [consulate official] said specifically that he had instructions not to give me a visa yesterday. It was hard to talk to a brick wall, he was like that. He just said, 'we'll call you', and that's all the information I got. I'm not like, a threat to America or anything. I'm just ready to do my job and that's it. I don't know what it is. The visa issues are perplexing, given Hunt has fought twice in the USA [in September 2010 and September 2011] for the UFC since his 2002 arrest - yet has had no issues with travel until now. Given he had originally planned to arrive in Las Vegas in the first week of May, Hunt admitted the delay was a major setback in his preparation for the dos Santos bout. "I'm running out of time just to get over there and get acclimatised," Hunt said. I fought in Vegas once before and I went out there four days out from the fight, and that was quite tiring. I was going to bed at six in the morning, American time, and everyone else was just waking up. It was a bit of a problem, so I just have to get my visa in time to get acclimatised - so hopefully soon, tomorrow or tonight. I'll just leave it in God's hands, and see whatever happens, happens. ABOVE: Mark Hunt's tweet after he was not allowed to board a flight from Auckland to Las Vegas on May 6. With dos Santos currently rated the number one contender in the UFC's heavyweight division, victory for Hunt would put him right in the frame to fight the winner of the Cain Velasquez-Antonio Silva heavyweight title bout, which headlines the UFC 160 card. Hunt has strong claims for a title shot, given he owns the current longest winning streak in the UFC's heavyweight division [four consecutive victories], highlighted by consecutive knock-outs of Cheick Kongo and Stefan Struve. If I can beat Junior, it should put me into the number one spot. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't," Hunt said. He's a former world champion, so it'll be a great match. So we'll see how it goes. dos Santos also admitted concern at Hunt's visa issues, given more delays could either force the UFC to call in a different fighter at short notice, or cancel the fight altogether. When I first heard the news, I was worried. I was scared that I wouldn't have a fight," dos Santos said through a translator this morning. I've trained a lot in this training camp, I'm very prepared, and I'm sure Mark is in the same boat. Neither one of us wants to be without a fight next week, but it's my understanding that it's being resolved. A UFC spokesman said he was confident Hunt would be able to fly to Las Vegas by the weekend, at the latest. Our team is working on this issue. This isn't the first time we've had a travel issue or a visa issue - we have some of the best people equipped to take care of these issues," he said. We're pretty confident that Mark's going to get out over the weekend, so as soon as we have more of an update we will let you, but I'm sure Mark will put it out on Twitter once he gets on the plane. But we're pretty confident it's going to get taken care of. The UFC 160 card holds plenty of interest for Australian and New Zealand fight fans, with Hunt joined on the card by fellow Sydney-based fighters Jamie Te Huna and Robert Whittaker. Te Huna takes on number four-rated light heavyweight Glover Teixeira, while Whittaker - who won the welterweight division of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes in December - takes on The Ultimate Fighter 16 winner Colton Smith. Poll: Who will win the two main heavyweight bouts at UFC 160 next week? Cain Velasquez [to beat Antonio Silva] and Junior dos Santos [to beat Mark Hunt] Antonio Silva [to beat Cain Velasquez] and Junior dos Santos [to beat Mark Hunt] Cain Velasquez [to beat Antonio Silva] and Mark Hunt [to beat Junior dos Santos] Antonio Silva [to beat Cain Velasquez] and Mark Hunt [to beat Junior dos Santos] Total votes: 225.