The career of UFC fighter Soa ‘The Hulk’ Palelei at a glance.
Following a childhood from hell, mixed martial arts helped put Soa ‘The Hulk’ Palelei on the right path in life. His memoir, Face Your Fears, is a raw and powerful story about turning obstacles into opportunities and following your dreams – destroying the odds in the hope for a better life.
Pelelei had his professional fighting debut in 2002, and he went on to dominate on the Australian circuit. Five years later he was signed on to compete in the revered Ultimate Fighting Championship. But the dream didn’t last, and his became a rollercoaster story of crushing defeats, comebacks and winning streaks on the world’s biggest stage.
Here’s a snapshot of Palelei’s career at a glance:
Nickname: The Hulk
Born: 12 July 1977
From: Newcastle, Australia
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 130kgs
Reach: 81”
MMA Debut: 2002
Retired: 2015
Career Record: 22 wins (19 by KO) and 5 losses
Fastest Victory: 0:12 (Vs Bob Sapp, 2012)
Championships: K-Oz Entertainment Super Heavyweight Championship (2012); AFC Heavyweight Championship (2012); defended AFC Heavyweight Championship (2012).
From homeless kid to the UFC's world stage – Soa Palelei's is an inspirational story of an Australian fighter who never gave up.
Read the first three chapters of Ariā and the Monster Island!
For generations, Lynley Dodd’s Hairy Maclary stories have introduced young children to the joy of reading…
There is nothing kids love more than a big old belly-laugh, and when it comes to reading, a book full of laugh-out-loud moments can unlock a joy of reading for life!
Treat Mum to an amazing meal at home this Mother’s Day! We’ve curated the perfect Mother’s Day brunch using some of our most popular recipes.
Join Christopher de Hamel as he travels across New Zealand for a series of author talks, exploring the connections between his South Island childhood, medieval manuscripts and 19th century Aotearoa.
In their own words, younger readers review their favourite Lottie Brooks books and why they love the series!
Not sure where to start with the Dungeon Crawler Carl series? Find out which to read first, and learn a little bit about each book.
Discover some of the best vampire books – from paranormal to gothic and beyond.
Learn about the inspiration behind debut authors’ first novels.
Penguin Random House is delighted to announce that Jacinda Ardern will be doing three book events in New Zealand in April and May.
They've closed the final Percy Jackson book. Now what?
Graphic novels are the perfect way to get disinterested readers to pick up a book.