Junior dos Santos knew a win over Mark Hunt would secure him a title shot and he kicked his way to a title shot with a third round knockout victory. 
The fight opened with Hunt landing a low kick and Dos Santos fired back with a right hand. Hunt pushed forward and Dos Santos landed a right hand that dropped Hunt.
Dos Santos would go in for the finish but Hunt would survive the flurry of punches from the former champion. He continued to look to land an overhand right but Hunt was able to get away. The continued to exchange throughout the rest of the round with Dos Santos continuing to look for his overhand right.
In the second round, Hunt landed a left hand and Dos Santos followed it up with a right hand. After each fighter landed punches, Dos Santos landed a combination that he went to the body and an overhand right to the face. Hunt continued to come forward and begin to throw leg kicks.
After Hunt landed several punches against the fence, Dos Santos took the fight to the ground with one minute left in the second round. While on the ground, Dos Santos advanced his position to side control and landed short elbows as the round ended.
As the final round opened, both fighters came out swinging for the fences and Hunt connected with several left hands. As the round went on, Hunt appeared to slow down and Dos Santos became more active with punches and kicks.
With 90 seconds left in the fight, Dos Santos landed a left hand that had Hunt step backwards but he did not go in for the finish. With a minute to go, Dos Santos landed a spinning heel kick that dropped Hunt and finished the fight on the ground.
With this victory, Dos Santos will face the winner of the main event between Cain Velasquez and Antonio Silva.
UFC 160 Results:
Junior dos Santos def. Mark Hunt via KO (spinning heel kick) – Round 3, 4:18
Glover Teixeira def. James Te Huna via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:38
TJ Grant def. Gray Maynard via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:07
Donald Cerrone def. KJ Noons via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Mike Pyle def. Rick Story via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Dennis Bermudez def. Max Holloway via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Robert Whittaker def. Colton Smith via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, :41
Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Abel Trujillo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27. 30-27)
Stephen Thompson def. Nah-Shon Burrell via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
George Roop def. Brian Bowles via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 1:43
Jeremy Stephens def. Estevan Payan via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)