Standing 6’4” and weighing 280-pounds, Soa Palelei is one of the most physically imposing heavyweights in the game.
Fighting out of Perth, Australia “The Hulk” is fresh off the heels of a 16-second dismantling of Queensland based slugger Matt Walker for Australia’s premiere MMA organization, Cage Fighting Championships.
With this victory he has won four of his last five outings with his only defeat coming to Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist Daniel Cormier.
Although he is achieving success in his home land, Soa eyes a return to the United States in his future.
“I want to fight the best, I’m in the best shape of my life and I’m hungry,” he states “The UFC and Bellator have some of the best guys and I want to test myself against them”
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt has had his chance on the big stage and failed to collect a victory in 2007 against Eddie Sanchez.
“It was the worst fight of my career, nothing went right,” Soa says “I had to fly back home because my son was in hospital while cutting weight and I didn’t show up to fight, plain and simple.”
But he has no regrets about his performance that night. “You have to learn from your mistakes and move forward, I didn’t show up prepared and lost” he says.
Soa has the chance to notch his fourth straight knockout victory and kick-off the New Year with a bang on January 21st when he squares off with PRIDE & Sengoku veteran Henry Miller.
“He’s a big, strong guy weighing over 100-Kilograms who’s fought a lot of tough guys in his time,” he says “He’s a big banger and if I let him hit me on the button I will go down so I have to be ready”
Training alongside K-1 World Grand Prix champion Mark Hunt on a daily basis has helped keep him sharp and prepare him for the challenges ahead.
“I don’t care who I fight in the future, I don’t think any of them hit harder than Mark [Hunt] and I can wrestle, I have jiu-jitsu and train to go as long as is needed”
2012 is the year that “The Hulk” looks to take on the best challengers whether they be in the United States, Australia, Japan or Madagascar.
