Australian heavyweight Soa Palelei
Australian heavyweight Soa ‘The Hulk’ Palelei (18-3) was signed to a four-fight contract by the Ultimate Fighting Championship after one appearance in the Octagon back at UFC 79. Now it appears that Palelei has his first fight of his new contract and is rumored to face Croatian-American Stipe Miocic (9-1) this June as part of the UFC 161 card.
No official announcement has surfaced from the promotion reference the bout or the event (at time of writing), but FightNewsAustralia.com says that a source revealed to them the Palelei vs. Miocic bout for the expected Winnipeg, Canada event.
UFC 161 is expected to take place on June 15, 2013 and marks the promotions first visit to the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Three bouts are already in the works as light heavyweights Antonio Rogerio Nogueira takes on Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, while Dan Henderson faces Rashad Evans, as well as welterweights Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley.
Through a press-release, Palelei thanked the promotion for a second chance inside the Octagon.
“I’m thankful to Dana White and Joe Silva for giving me this opportunity to come back to the UFC to showcase my skills,” Palelei commented in the release. “With determination, hard work and a great team, I’m happy to say that today I have signed with the UFC. I look forward to competing in the best organization in the world,” he added.
‘The Hulk’ has rattled off eight straight wins, all by (T)KO, and is 10-1 in his last eleven matches. Palelei made his Octagon debut back in December 2007 at UFC 79, losing by third round TKO to Eddie Sanchez. Since then he’s gone on to rattle off ten wins, all stoppages, with one loss which was to Daniel Cormier. Palelei’s most recent win came in December in an Australian Fighting Championship title defense as he beat former UFC heavyweight Sean McCorkle by first round TKO.
Miocic lost for the first time in his career last September in Nottingham, UK suffering a second round TKO loss to Stefan Struve at the UFC on FUEL TV 5 event. The defeat ended a string of three straight wins inside the Octagon which saw Miocic defeat Shane del Rosario at UFC 146, Phil De Fries at UFC on FUEL TV 1, and Joey Beltran at UFC 136.