Soa Palelei

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Soa Palelei
Soa 'The Hulk' Palelei.jpg
Born (1977-07-12) 12 July 1977 (age 47)
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Other namesThe Hulk
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight265 lb (120 kg; 18 st 13 lb)
Division Heavyweight
Super Heavyweight
Reach81 in (210 cm) [1]
Style Wrestling, BJJ, Kickboxing
Fighting out of Perth, Western Australia, Australia
TeamTeam Hulk
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [2]
Years active2002–2015 (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total27
Wins22
By knockout18
By submission4
Losses5
By knockout3
By submission1
By decision1
Other information
Website http://www.soathehulk.com/
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Soa Palelei (born 12 July 1977) is an Australian retired mixed martial artist. A professional from 2002 until 2015, he most notably competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and PRIDE Fighting Championships.

Contents

Background

Born in 1977, Newcastle, New South Wales, of Tongan descent, Palelei started his fighting career at an early age. Wrestling was his first choice in the earlier years and nearly saw him compete for Australia at the Olympics in Sydney. Palelei's interest quickly grew in the arena of martial arts and from there his love of the mixed martial arts grew.

Personal life

Palelei has a mentoring program called Hulk Kids MMA, in which he mentors teens on every aspect of life, combined with training and diet tips this program is available for schools and community groups. [3]

Palelei published a memoir, titled Face Your Fears, in June 2016. [4]

Acting career

Palelei made his acting debut in the 2014 Australian film, Son of a Gun, playing the role of a henchmen Tommy alongside Ewan McGregor, Matt Nable and Brenton Thwaites. Since then Palelei has played the lead in Zombie Ninjas Vs Black Ops which is due to be released in 2015, and Football Breakers an Australian Comedy. In 2017 Palelei appeared alongside Matt Nable, Ryan Corr, Abbey Leigh, Eddie Baroo and Simone Kessell in 1% .

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Palelei made his professional MMA debut in September 2002. He was undefeated for the first two years of his career, going 7–0 with all wins either by TKO or submission. He suffered his first defeat via submission to Choi Mu-Bae at PRIDE 28 in October 2004.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Palelei had a brief stint in the UFC at UFC 79 against Eddie Sanchez, losing by TKO in the third round. He was released from the promotion shortly after.

Post-UFC

He was at one stage linked a fight at ONE FC – Pride of a Nation against former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski, however ONE FC officials pulled him from the fight as he refused to sign a five-fight exclusive contract with ONE Fighting Championship. He was replaced by former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia. [5]

After his release from the UFC in 2007, Palelei went 10–1 including wins over UFC veterans Brad Morris and Sean McCorkle. [6] He defeated McCorkle in the main event at Australian Fighting Championship (AFC) 4 via technical knock-out in round one [7] and defended his AFC heavyweight title he won at AFC 3.

Return to UFC

In March 2013, Palelei signed a multi fight deal with the UFC. [8]

Palelei was expected to face Stipe Miocic on 15 June 2013 at UFC 161 until Miocic was reassigned to fight Roy Nelson as a replacement on the main card and Palelei was pulled from the event. [9]

Palelei faced UFC newcomer Nikita Krylov at UFC 164. He won the fight via third-round TKO in a lackluster fight which saw both fighters exhausted after the first round. It was later revealed that Palelei suffered a fractured rib during the week before the fight. [10]

Palelei next faced Pat Barry at UFC Fight Night 33 on 7 December 2013. [11] He won the fight via knockout in the first round, after achieving full mount position and landing a barrage of punches.

Palelei faced promotional newcomer Ruan Potts on 10 May 2014 at UFC Fight Night 40. [12] He won the fight via knockout, again from a full mount, in the first round.

Palelei faced Jared Rosholt on 28 June 2014 at UFC Fight Night 43. [13] Palelei lost the fight via unanimous decision. [14]

Palelei was expected to face Daniel Omielańczuk on 8 November 2014 at UFC Fight Night 55. [15] However, Omielańczuk was forced to pull out of bout with a broken thumb and was replaced by Walt Harris. [16] He won the fight by TKO in the second round.

Palelei faced Antônio Silva on 1 August 2015 at UFC 190. [17] He lost the fight by TKO in the second round. [18] [19] In turn, Palelei announced his retirement from MMA on 19 October 2015. [20]

Accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
27 matches22 wins5 losses
By knockout183
By submission41
By decision01
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss22–5 Antônio Silva TKO (punches) UFC 190 1 August 201520:41 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win22–4 Walt Harris TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Bisping 8 November 201424:49 Sydney, Australia
Loss21–4 Jared Rosholt Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt 28 June 201435:00 Auckland, New Zealand
Win21–3 Ruan Potts KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva 10 May 201412:20 Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Win20–3 Pat Barry KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot 7 December 201312:09 Brisbane, Australia
Win19–3 Nikita Krylov TKO (punches) UFC 164 31 August 201331:34 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Win18–3 Sean McCorkle TKO (punches)Australian Fighting Championship 47 December 201211:45 Melbourne, AustraliaDefended the AFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win17–3 Bob Sapp TKO (punches)Cage Fighting Championship 2118 May 201210:12 Sydney, Australia
Win16–3Joe KielurTKO (punches)Australian Fighting Championship 314 April 201211:14 Melbourne, AustraliaWon the AFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win15–3Shunske InoueTKO (punches)Cage Fighting Championship 2024 February 201224:08 Gold Coast, Australia
Win14–3 Henry Miller TKO (punches)K-Oz Entertainment: Bragging Rights21 January 201211:26 Perth, AustraliaWon the K-Oz Entertainment Super Heavyweight Championship.
Win13–3Matt WalkerTKO (punches)Cage Fighting Championship 199 December 201110:16 Sydney, Australia
Win12–3Son Hai SukTKO (punches)Australian Fighting Championship 23 September 201110:28 Melbourne, Australia
Win11–3 Yusuke Kawaguchi TKO (punches)Australian Fighting Championship 125 June 20111N/A Melbourne, Australia
Loss10–3 Daniel Cormier TKO (submission to punches)Xtreme MMA 35 November 201012:23 Sydney, AustraliaFor the XMMA Heavyweight Championship.
Win10–2Brad MorrisSubmission (keylock) Impact FC 2 18 July 201014:20 Sydney, Australia
Win9–2Leamy TatoSubmission (armbar)XFC: Return of the Hulk14 March 200910:56 Perth, Australia
Loss8–2 Eddie Sanchez TKO (punches) UFC 79 29 December 200733:24 Paradise, Nevada, United States
Win8–1Shaun VanofKO (punch) KOTC: Perth 5 October 200710:05 Perth, Australia
Loss7–1 Choi Mu-Bae Submission (rear-naked choke) PRIDE 28 31 October 200424:55 Saitama, Japan
Win7–0Vince LuceroTKO (punches)Shooto Australia – NHB20 May 20041N/A Melbourne, Australia
Win6–0Lance CartwrightTKO (injury)XFC 4 – Australia vs The World19 March 200410:38 Queensland, Australia
Win5–0 Christian Wellisch TKO (punches)Shooto Australia – NHB12 February 200424:33 Melbourne, Australia
Win4–0Don RichardsTKO (submission to punches)Shooto Australia – NHB13 November 20031N/A Melbourne, Australia
Win3–0Edwin MontevginiSubmission (armbar)After Dark Fight Night 31 August 200321:15Australia
Win2–0Gerald Burton-BattyTKO (punches)Thunderdome21 February 200310:49 Perth, Australia
Win1–0Brad MorrisTKO (doctor stoppage)Xtreme Fight Night27 September 200243:00Australia

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fight Card – UFC Fight Night Brown vs. Silva". UFC. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "Soa Palelei – Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Year 10 boys face their fears with UFC star 'the Hulk'". St Mary MacKillop College. 28 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "Face Your Fears by Soa Palelei". Penguin Books. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "Asian MMA: Soa Palelei Out, Andre Arlovski Vs. Tim Sylvia 4 Booked For ONE FC 5". bloodyelbow.com. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  6. ↑ Andrew Potter (3 October 2012). "Soa Palalei vs Sean McCorckle Confirmed For AFC 4 in Australia". MMAWeekly.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Andrew Potter (10 December 2012). "AFC 4 Results: Soa Palalei Finishes McCorkle; Continues Push For UFC Contract". MMAWeekly.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  8. ↑ Tom Ngo (4 March 2013). "Soa 'The Hulk' Palelei Signs Four-Fight Contract with UFC". 5thround.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  9. ↑ Johnston, Mike (22 May 2013). "Nelson vs. Miocic added to UFC 161 in Winnipeg". SportsNet. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  10. ↑ Steven Marrocco (31 August 2013). "UFC 164 results and photos: Tired Soa Palelei stops exhausted Nikita Krylov". MMAJunkie.com. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  11. ↑ Dave Reid (14 September 2013). "Pat Barry & Soa Palelei Set To Square Off at UFC Fight Night 33". mmainsider.net. Archived from the original on 16 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  12. ↑ Liam Ducey (20 February 2014). "Soa Palelei to face Ruan Potts at UFC Cincinnati". watoday.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  13. ↑ Staff (13 May 2014). "Soa Palelei vs. Jared Rosholt added to UFC Fight Night 43 in New Zealand". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  14. ↑ Staff (28 June 2014). "UFC Fight Night 43 results: Jared Rosholt dominates Soa Palelei for decision win". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  15. ↑ Staff (11 September 2014). "Soa "The Hulk" Palelei vs Daniel Omielańczuk announced for Fight Night in Sydney". fighters.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  16. ↑ Neil Rooke (19 October 2014). "Walt Harris Replaces Daniel Omielanczuk, Faces Soa Palelei at UFC Fight Night 55 in Sydney". combatpress.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  17. ↑ Liam Croy (25 April 2015). "Soa 'the Hulk' in battle of the giants". au.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  18. ↑ Ben Fowlkes (1 August 2015). "UFC 190 results: 'Bigfoot' Silva blasts past Soa Palelei with second-round TKO". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  19. ↑ Matt Boone (19 October 2015). "17 Additional Fighters Released From UFC". mmanews.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  20. ↑ Dann Stupp (19 October 2015). "UFC heavyweight Soa Palelei announces MMA retirement". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
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