Eric Pele

Last updated
Eric Pele
Born (1969-10-21) October 21, 1969 (age 53)
San Francisco, California, United States
Other namesBig E
Residence Primm, Nevada, United States
Nationality American
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight340 lb (154 kg; 24 st 4 lb)
Division Super Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
TeamPele Fight Team
Xtreme Couture
RankPurple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2000–2008
Mixed martial arts record
Total16
Wins11
By knockout7
By submission2
By decision2
Losses5
By knockout2
By decision3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Eric Pele (born October 21, 1969) is a retired American mixed martial artist of Samoan descent [1] and former King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Champion. Pele is also an accomplished tattoo artist who has appeared on the reality television shows "Inked" and "Tattoo Nightmare", with the latter appearing on Spike TV, using the nickname 'Big E'. He has competed in various mixed martial arts organizations including RINGS, MFC, and King of the Cage. [2]

Contents

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Pele made his professional debut in 2000 at the RINGS USA Heavyweight Tournament, defeating Wesley Correira (also making his pro debut) via submission. In the semifinal bout, Pele defeated Roger Neff via decision. In the final, Pele faced then 20-3 Bobby Hoffman. Pele was handed his first professional loss via decision.

King of the Cage

After three more wins, Pele faced Dan Bobish in the main event at KOTC: Cold Blood for the Super Heavyweight title. Pele was defeated after his corner stopped the fight in the second round.

In 2003, Pele fought again for the title against Dan Christison. Pele won the King of the Cage Super Heavyweight title via first-round TKO.

In his first title defense, Pele defeated Travis Fulton via first-round submission. In 2005, Pele returned to defend his title in a rematch with Bobby Hoffman. Pele avenged his first career loss and title via second-round TKO. Pele was later stripped of the title due to inactivity, and fought Vince Lucero in October of 2006, winning via decision.

BodogFIGHT

Pele was signed by Bodog and slated to face Antonio Silva for BodogFIGHT on December 2, 2006. Pele handed the future UFC title challenger his first professional loss via TKO. After his win over Silva, Pele next faced Alexander Emelianenko on April 14, 2007. Pele was defeated via first-round stoppage. After a win in the regional circuit, Pele returned to Bodog, losing via decision to Akhmed Sultanov.

Maximum Fighting Championship

Pele last competed professionally in May of 2008 against Chase Gormley. Pele was defeated via unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
16 matches11 wins5 losses
By knockout72
By submission20
By decision23
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss11–5 Chase Gormley Decision (unanimous) MFC 16: Anger Management May 9, 200835:00N/A
Loss11–4Akhmet SultanovDecision (unanimous)BodogFIGHT: USA vs. RussiaNovember 30, 200735:00N/A
Win11–3Antoine HayesTKOIFO: Kimmons vs YunkerSeptember 21, 200712:00N/A
Loss10–3 Alexander Emelianenko KO (punch)BodogFIGHT: Clash of the NationsAugust 25, 200714:07N/A
Win10–2 Antônio Silva TKO (punches and elbows)BodogFIGHT: USA vs RussiaDecember 2, 200612:40N/A
Win9–2Vince LuceroDecision (unanimous)Extreme Wars 5October 6, 200635:00N/A
Win8–2 Bobby Hoffman TKO KOTC: Mortal Sins May 7, 200522:55N/ADefended the King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Championship.
Win7–2 Travis Fulton Submission (verbal) KOTC 32: Bringing Heat January 24, 200411:35N/ADefended the King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Championship.
Win6–2 Dan Christison TKO KOTC 23: Sin City May 16, 200314:50N/AWon the King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Championship.
Loss5–2 Dan Bobish TKO (corner stoppage) KOTC 12: Cold Blood February 9, 200221:10N/AFor the King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Championship.
Win5–1Kauai KupiheaTKO (submission to strikes) KOTC 11: Domination September 29, 200111:40N/A
Win4–1 Sean Alvarez KO KOTC 9: Showtime June 23, 200130:27N/A
Win3–1Ernest HendersonTKO (submission to punches)GC 1: Gladiator Challenge 1December 9, 2000N/AN/AN/A
Loss2–1 Bobby Hoffman Decision (unanimous) RINGS USA: Rising Stars Final September 30, 200035:00N/ARINGS Heavyweight Tournament Final.
Win2–0Roger NeffDecision (unanimous) RINGS: King of Kings 2000 Block B July 22, 200025:00N/ARINGS Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win1–0 Wesley Correira Submission (armbar) RINGS: King of Kings 2000 Block B July 22, 200022:30N/ARINGS Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Horn</span> American mixed martial arts fighter

Jeremy Graham Horn is an American mixed martial artist. Horn is best known for fighting in smaller American promotions, he has also competed in some of the premiere mixed martial arts organizations around the world, including the UFC, WEC, PRIDE, Bellator, Pancrase, the IFL, King of the Cage, and the International Fighting Championships (IFC). Horn is the former King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion and has also competed in the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuki Kondo</span> Japanese mixed martial arts fighter

Yuki Kondo is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. He has officially 111 professional fights, making him one of the most experienced mixed martial artists ever. He has also competed for the UFC, PRIDE, Sengoku, Palace Fighting Championships, BodogFIGHT, and DEEP. He has competed overseas only four times, and holds a record of 2–2. He is the former Pancrase Light Heavyweight Champion as well as the former Pancrase Middleweight Champion.

Wesley John Correira Jr., nicknamed Cabbage, is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight and super heavyweight divisions. An iron chinned brawler, Correira began his career in 2000 and came to prominence with a number of knockout wins on the heavyweight scene in his native Hawaii before a two-year stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship between 2002 and 2004. Following this, he became a journeyman heavyweight, fighting a number of notable opponents mostly in his native state.

Daijiro Matsui is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. A professional MMA competitor since 1998, he has competed for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, Cage Rage, DEEP, Pancrase, and King of the Cage. As a professional wrestler, Matsui has wrestled for UWF International, Battlarts, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Inoki Genome Federation and most recently GLEAT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Vera</span> Filipino-American mixed martial arts fighter

Brandon Michael Vera, or also known by his ring name as The Truth, is a Filipino-American retired mixed martial artist where he was the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Champion and the 2005 WEC Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion. A professional competitor from 2002 until 2022, he competed in the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions of ONE Championship, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Prangley</span> South African mixed martial arts fighter

Trevor Prangley is a South African mixed martial artist. He has fought in the UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, Dream, King of the Cage, MFC, the SFL, Shark Fights, and Bodog Fight. He competed in the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. He was the former King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion, the former Shark Fights Light Heavyweight Champion, and the former MFC Light Heavyweight Champion.

Marvin Lee Eastman is a retired American professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. A professional MMA competitor from 2000 until 2013, he competed in K-1, the UFC, World Fighting Alliance, Maximum Fighting Championship, Shooto, and King of the Cage, where he was Super Heavyweight Champion. A talented athlete, he also played football in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheick Kongo</span> French mixed martial artist

Cheick Kongo is a French mixed martial artist and former kickboxer who fights in the Heavyweight division of Bellator. A professional MMA competitor since 2001, he has also competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antônio Silva (fighter)</span> Brazilian kickboxer and mixed martial arts fighter (born 1979)

Antônio Carlos "Bigfoot" Silva is a retired Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer who formerly competed in the Heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor from 2005 until 2022, he has competed for the UFC, Strikeforce, EliteXC, Cage Rage, Fight Nights Global, World Victory Road, K-1 HERO'S, and Cage Warriors. He is the former EliteXC Heavyweight Champion, Cage Rage World Heavyweight Champion, and Cage Warriors Super Heavyweight Champion.

Bobby "The Truth" Hoffman is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the heavyweight division. He is the former King of the Cage super heavyweight champion as well as the former King of the Cage heavyweight champion. Having made his professional debut in 1998, Hoffman has also formerly competed for the UFC, RINGS, and Jungle Fight. During his career, Hoffman defeated world champions Alistair Overeem and Ricco Rodriguez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Kyle</span> American mixed martial arts fighter

Michael Andrew Kyle is an American professional mixed martial artist and boxer currently competing in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2001, Kyle has competed for the UFC, the WEC, Strikeforce, the World Series of Fighting, Absolute Championship Berkut, Pancrase, and King of the Cage. He is the former WEC Heavyweight Champion and King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falaniko Vitale</span> American mixed martial arts fighter

Falaniko "Niko" Vitale is a retired American mixed martial artist. He competed in the Middleweight division and has fought in the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, the IFL, and King of the Cage. He is a former SuperBrawl Middleweight Champion, and also won the X-1 Middleweight Tournament.

Chris "The Westside Strangler" Brennan is an American mixed martial artist who last competed in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor from 1996 until 2012, he competed for the UFC, PRIDE, Cage Rage, King of the Cage and Shooto. He is a former King of the Cage Middleweight Champion and former King of the Cage Middleweight Superfight Champion. He is also one of 18 fighters to compete in the -77 kg division at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships in 2005. Chris was also the founder of Nogi Industries, a Mixed martial arts clothing company. In 2014 Chris was inducted in to the Mixed Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Chris is the owner and founder of Next Generation MMA. After retiring from MMA competition Chris switched his focus back to grappling events and also entered and won the No-Gi Black Belt World Championships in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He was also the 2014 Nogi Pan American Champion.

Timothy Edward Lee Hague was a Canadian mixed martial artist and boxer who competed in the heavyweight division, most recently for Absolute Championship Berkut. He became a professional fighter in 2006, and formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, World Series of Fighting and King of the Cage, where he went 11–0 and was the King of the Cage Canada Heavyweight Champion. On June 16, 2017, he suffered a brain hemorrhage after being knocked out in a boxing match against Adam Braidwood in Edmonton, Alberta. He died on June 18, 2017.

Daniel Emerson Bobish is a retired American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. He was competing in the Super Heavyweight division. He is a former King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Champion. Bobish has fought in many MMA organizations including PRIDE Fighting Championships, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Gladiator Challenge and King of the Cage. His fights typically did not go past the first round with the average length of his fights being 2:43.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Silva</span> Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter

Jay Silva is an Angolan-born American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2008, Silva has also formerly competed for the UFC, Bellator, the MFC, KSW, and Tachi Palace Fights.

Quinn Patrick Mulhern is a retired American professional mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor from 2007 until 2014, Mulhern also competed for Strikeforce, King of the Cage, and is the former King of the Cage Welterweight Champion.

Jan Finney is an American female mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the 135-pound bantamweight division.

Sam Oropeza is a former American mixed martial artist, coach, manager, boxer, and politician who most notably competed in Bellator's middleweight and welterweight divisions. Oropeza had 16 professional MMA fights racking up an impressive 13-3 record. Oropeza competed professionally as a boxer where he competed as a cruiserweight and was undefeated in 2 fights.

Anthony "Tony" Johnson Jr. is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Heavyweight division of Absolute Championship Akhmat where he is the former ACA Heavyweight Champion. A professional competitor since 2008, Johnson has formerly competed for Bellator MMA, ONE Fighting Championship, Fight Nights Global, and King of the Cage. He is the former KOTC Heavyweight Champion. He is ranked #5 in the ACA heavyweight rankings.

References

  1. Evan South (2010-10-10). "Eric Pele interview". evansinterviews.blogspot.com.au. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
  2. "Eric Pele the Samoan Warrior Returns to Hawaii !". Archived from the original on 2012-02-02. Retrieved 2012-01-30.