Standing 6’4” and weighing 130kgs (286lbs), with 11 wins - 7 by knockout
and 4 by
submission, Soa “The Hulk” Palelei has never let a fight go to a judges
decision.
“The Hulk” has competed on the world level, both in the UFC and Pride
FC and has held numerous Australian MMA titles. After taking a break
from MMA, Soa “The Hulk” is back and on a two fight winning streak,
his most recent win was against two-time UFC competitor Brad Morris.
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, “The Hulk” confirms he is currently
at his best.
Elie: Congratulations on your latest win over
Brad Morris at Impact FC 2 in Sydney, what were your thoughts on the
fight?
Soa: I woke up Sunday morning and couldn’t breathe, I had the flu.
First thing I thought, how am I going to fight? I got through it,
I had to have a game plan and that was to finish him as quick as I
can. I respect Brad Morris as a fighter and as a person, he’s a tough
guy and no push over. He’s fought two times in the UFC, one of them
is against top heavy weight Cain Velasquez.
Elie: You dominated and finished him in the
first round, what was the game plan going into the fight?
Soa: My game plan was to relax and let him come to me and I tried
and weakened him by throwing knees and finished him early. Thank god
it went to plan because I was very sick, but I didn’t want him or
anyone to know. If brad knew he could have capitalised on it. I got
the win and I’m happy with that.
Elie: This is a rematch of your previous fight,
it took four rounds for you to win that fight, were you surprised
this time how quickly you finished the fight?
Soa: I’m a different fighter now, my stand up is sharp and my ground
game is world class. I have my black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and
you ain't seen my kicks yet. The hulk is back and I’m better than
ever. I’m hungry and will be around for a long time.
Elie: Australian MMA fans have wanted to see
this rematch for a long time; do you think they were surprised of
the result?
Soa: Yes they would have thought brad would have won. Like I said
I’m a different fighter now, you haven’t seen anything yet. I’m sure
no one thought I could knee, that’s only a small part of what you
haven’t seen yet.
Elie: You were meant to fight Bob Sapp, it didn’t
happen, were you keen on the Sapp fight?
Soa: Yeah I was and I trained hard for Bob Sapp and I put a bit of
weight on to, ‘cause I knew bob sapp would have come in at 150kg.
Elie: Brad Morris took the fight; do you think
he underestimated you?
Soa: I don’t know, maybe he did maybe he didn’t, but brad always brings
his A game and you know you’re going have a war with him.
Elie: Was it difficult for you to go from training
for Bob Sapp to Brad Morris?
Soa: Yeah, ‘cause Bob Sapp only has maybe 2 minutes of gas, as for
brad he can go for 3 x 5 minutes and he’s strong.
Elie: Brad Morris is a very tough and strong
fighter, I even thought the fight was going to be a lot closer, do
you think you have improved that much?
Soa: Like I said, you haven’t seen anything yet. I had the flu and
I beat brad onvincingly, can you imagine if I wasn’t sick?
Elie: You are now on a two fight winning streak,
what’s the plan from here?
Soa: Brazil in September and back in Sydney for late October, I’m
just going keep me busy and fighting every 4 to 8 weeks if I can.
Elie: You fought in Pride FC in Japan 5 years
ago and I have heard you might have a fight in Japan in the next few
months, any truth in that?
Soa: My manager is currently speaking with people there, I have unfinished
business in Japan and with Bob Sapp and Japan seems to be the best
place to catch up with him.
Elie: Let’s go back to your UFC debut, huge
things were expected from you, what went wrong?
Soa: I had to drop 10kgs in 5 days after already dropping nearly 20kgs,
and I left the Team Quest training camp early because my kid was in
hospital in Perth. A lot of things went wrong, but that’s life and
I’ve learnt from my mistakes and that was a time I would like to forget.
The past is history, the Future a mystery and the present day a gift!
Elie: UFC heavyweight division is stacked at
the moment, any chance we will see you in the UFC again?
Soa: Yeah. I want to be back in there in the UFC. I want to show everyone
that Soa "The Hulk" is back and that when I fought at UFC
79 that wasn’t me, that wasn’t “The Hulk”. This is "The Hulk"
time now and if I’m back in the UFC, I will stay there.
Elie: UFC will be back next year in Australia,
if they offered you a fight, who would you want?
Soa: I don’t care who they give me, but I do hope that who they give
me they better be ready, ‘cause I’ve got something to prove. I’m more
determined than ever and hungry. My stand up is world class and my
ground game is world class. All I want is to be the absolute best
and if you’re standing in my way, then there’s no other way then to
take you out.
Elie: Brock Lesnar is the current UFC heavyweight
champion, what do you think you would bring to the table against him?
Soa: My kicks and my knees. I have a good wrestling back ground as
well. If it goes to the ground, I know I have a better submission
game than him. I know Brock would not be able to handle my kicks let
alone my knees, elbows or my crunching punches.
Elie: Going forward, are you looking for international
opponents or more local opponents?
Soa: International opponents. I want to fight the best there is out
there. I want to keep climbing up the heavy weight ranks.
Elie: Previously, you spent some time in the
U.S. training, is that the game plan or will you be keeping yourself
in Australia?
Soa: I’ll probably head back to the U.S. before Brazil. I’m also looking
at opening a gym. My main thing at the moment is training and fighting.
Elie: Who were some of the people who helped
you prepare for this fight?
Soa: Southern Cross fit has helped me a lot with my strength and conditioning.
Something I have never focused on before and a lot of hand picked
guys from different gyms around Perth have helped. I also flew in
some guys from overseas for stand up and wrestling which really helped.
Elie: What have you been doing since the fight?
Soa: Recovered from the flu and started training for the next fight.
Elie: If you could fight any celebrity in the
cage, who would you choose and why?
Soa: I would choose Ronald McDonald. I would double leg him and ground
and pound him for not giving me free big Macs all these years (Laughs).
No seriously, it would be Danny Green. And I have put out the challenge
to him after his comments about taking on Brock Lesnar. I felt like
I had to stand up tall for MMA and put Danny Straight. I am more than
serious and happy to take him on, he has said hands and elbows for
Brock, well lets make it in the first round hands, elbows and stand
up grappling, the second round lets add legs to that and for the third
round if it gets that far, full MMA. I am even happy to do it for
a charity event!
Elie: Sounds like you have taken it personally,
was his comments offensive to you?
Soa: Well he challenged Brock Lesnar, he’s the UFC heavyweight champion,
what weight is Danny Green? Cruiserweight? Is he serious (Laugh)?
Far as I’m concerned he challenged the whole MMA community and I’m
part of that. I’m the same weight as Brock and I’m in Australia, so
let’s do it.
Elie: What are your thoughts when boxers think
they can compete in the cage against MMA fighters?
Soa: Never been proven, even in the early days of the UFC, boxer taking
on grapplers. Unless you get a lucky punch, if you miss, you’re getting
taken down. Now days all MMA fighters are all highly train in boxing,
the times have changed.
Elie: Soa Palelei vs Danny Green, how long will the fight last?
Soa: Danny challenged Brock to hands and elbows in the cage, we are
going to add stand up grappling to that for the first round, kick
boxing for the second, and full MMA for the third. Danny would like
to think it would end in the first; I’ve never been knocked out by
any of the MMA, boxers, kick boxers or K-1 fighters I have either
fought or sparred with. My chin is solid and proven. What I believe
would happen, if I hit him with a big elbow in the first he will be
sleeping. In the second it will either end with destroying him with
knees or damaging his legs, so he can’t stand up with my powerful
kicks. And if it goes to the third round, it with be a submission
and the MMA fans can choose the submission, if you want to set that
up online to give me the answer.
Elie: I heard a charity boxing promoter would
be happy to set this up in Perth?
Soa: Yes a guy called Troy Barbagallo has agreed to put his full weight
and support this event and set it up at any time of Danny’s choosing.
All money raised will go to cerebral palsy, he does boxing events
for charity on regular basis so this is no joke. So now it’s up to
Danny to prove he isn’t.
Elie: The challenge is out there, do you think
Danny Green would accept?
Soa: Well he wanted to fight Brock Lesnar, so why not “The Hulk”?
He has put the challenge out there, I’ve accepted on behalf of MMA.
I’ve organised a charity event, I’ve taken away all my strengths in
the first round and let him have his. There can no argument about
prize money as its all been donated to cerebral palsy. I’m the same
weight as Brock, we are supposed to be both warriors and gladiators
and this is his chance to prove that he is no different from when
I
accepted a 6'6inches 160kg Bob Sapp challenge.
Elie: Finish the sentence, After a fight with
Soa “The hulk” Palelei, Danny Green will ________?
Soa: Stick to boxing for the rest of his life and never disrespect
MMA again, and know I’m the real green machine, "The Hulk".
Elie: Thank you for the interview, any finals
words?
Soa: I would like to thank Everything MMA, Southern Cross Fit, Healthy
Life Healthy Choice, Porvida Tattoos, Lojak and Luxcon Developments.
Thank you fans, friends and family for your support. "The Hulk"
is back better, faster, fitter and so more focused than anyone could
possibly imagine. If you want to see me on the UFC in Sydney February
2011, make sure you let UFC know.
