UFC Fight Night in Cincinnati gets its first two bouts, both with Australians
The recently announced UFC Fight Night in Cincinnati event has its two first bouts, both of which include an Australian fighter, UFC officials today announced.
The pairings include heavyweights Soa Palelei (20-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) vs. Ruan Potts (8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and lightweights Justin Salas (11-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) vs. Ben Wall (7-1-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC).
As reported earlier today, the event takes place May 10 at Cincinnati’s U.S. Bank Arena. The main card is expected to air on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on UFC Fight Pass.
Palelei, a 36-year-old Australian, is on a 10-fight winning streak, and remarkably, all of the victories have come via knockout. Most recently, in his first UFC stint since a one-and-done deal in 2007, he’s stopped Nikita Krylov and Pat Barry with strikes.
He takes on promotional newcomer Potts, a highly touted South African prospect and reigning EFC champion. The fighter is riding a three-fight streak of submission wins, which now gives him eight stoppages (four knockouts and four submissions) in eight career victories.
Meanwhile, Salas, who went on 9-3 on the Midwest’s regional scene, signed with the UFC in early 2012. Since then, he’s scored decision wins over Anton Kuivanen and Aaron Riley while suffering stoppage losses to Tim Means and Thiago Tavares.
The 31-year-old wrestler looks to get above .500 in the UFC when he meets Australia’s Wall, a quarterfinalist on “The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes.†After opening his pro career with a 7-0-1 mark, he suffered his first official loss in December with a knockout defeat to Alex Garcia at UFC Fight Night 33.
