Punahele Soriano
Punahele Soriano | |
---|---|
Born | Wailua, Kauai County, Hawaii, U.S. | November 22, 1992
Other names | Puna |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) |
Division | Heavyweight Middleweight Welterweight |
Reach | 72 in (183 cm)[1] |
Fighting out of | O‘ahu, Hawaii |
Team | Xtreme Couture |
Rank | Brown belt in Judo[2] |
Wrestling | NCAA Division III Wrestling[3] |
Years active | 2017–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 14 |
Wins | 10 |
By knockout | 6 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 2 |
Losses | 4 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 1 |
By decision | 2 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Punahele Soriano (born November 22, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Background
[edit]As a senior at Kahuku High School in Laie, Hawaii, on the North Shore of Oahu, Soriano was the 171-pound state wrestling champion, after placing third in the state as a junior. In addition to being a high school state champion in wrestling, he was a high school state judo champion. He went on to wrestle Division-III at Wartburg College in Iowa, where he earned All-America honors at the 2014 NCAAs by placing seventh in the 197-pound bracket, in the process becoming the first qualifier from Hawaii.[4][3][5]
Soriano's interest in MMA started through friend and current UFC fighter Dan Ige, who invited Soriano to help train MMA fighters in wrestling.[6]
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Soriano compiled an amateur record of 4–0, from 2015 until 2016.[7] After making his professional debut in Hawaii on January 28, 2017, at X-1 World Events 45, and getting a first-round submission win, Soriano made his Middleweight and mainland debut on July 29, 2017, at PFL Everett against Jon Gover. He won the bout via first-round TKO.[8]
Soriano faced Rafael Celestino on April 6, 2019, at Titan FC 49. He won the bout via knockout in under a minute.[9]
After picking up a TKO win in just 45 seconds at V3 Fights 69 against James Horne, Soriano faced Jhonoven Pati on October 19, 2018, at LFA 52. He won the bout via a first-round rear-naked choke.[10]
Soriano was invited onto Dana White's Contender Series 17 on June 18, 2019, where he faced Jamie Pickett. He won the bout via unanimous decision, getting a UFC contract in the process and going past the first round for the first time in his MMA career.[11]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
[edit]Soriano made his UFC debut against Oskar Piechota on December 14, 2019, at UFC 245.[12] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[13]
Soriano faced fellow undefeated DWCS alumni Duško Todorović on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar. He won the bout, getting the TKO at the end of the first round.[14]
Soriano was scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez on June 26, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov.[15] The pairing was previously scheduled to take place in May 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris, but Soriano pulled out due to undisclosed reasons.[16] In turn, Hernandez pulled out in late May due to a hand injury and was replaced by Brendan Allen, with the new matchup taking place a month later at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw.[17] Soriano lost the fight via unanimous decision.[18]
Soriano faced Nick Maximov on February 5, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 200.[19] He lost the fight via split decision.[20] 12 out of 16 media scores gave it to Maximov.[21]
Soriano faced Dalcha Lungiambula on July 16, 2022 at UFC on ABC 3.[22] He won the fight via knockout in the second round.[23] This win earned Soriano his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[24]
Soriano faced Roman Kopylov on January 14, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 217.[25] He lost the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[26]
Soriano was scheduled to face Sedriques Dumas on June 24, 2023 at UFC on ABC 5.[27] However, on June 15 it was announced that Soriano pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Cody Brundage.[28]
Soriano faced Dustin Stoltzfus on December 2, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 52.[29] He lost the fight via rear-naked choke in round two.[30]
Soriano faced Miguel Baeza in his welterweight division debut on June 8, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 57.[31] After landing a record number of ground strikes, he won the fight by unanimous decision.[32]
Soriano is scheduled to face Uroš Medić on January 11, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 249.[33]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Dalcha Lungiambula[24]
- Most significant ground strikes landed in a bout in UFC history (136) (vs. Miguel Baeza)[34]
- Most significant ground strikes landed in a UFC welterweight bout (136) (vs. Miguel Baeza)[35]
- Most total ground strikes landed in a UFC welterweight bout (317) (vs. Miguel Baeza)[35]
- Second most total strikes landed in a UFC welterweight bout (331) (vs. Miguel Baeza)[35]
- Highest significant strike differential in a UFC welterweight bout (+137) (vs. Miguel Baeza)[35]
- Highest strike differential for total strikes in a three-round UFC bout (+309) (vs. Miguel Baeza)[36]
- Most total strikes landed in a round in UFC history (184 in R3) (vs. Miguel Baeza)[37]
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]14 matches | 10 wins | 4 losses |
By knockout | 6 | 1 |
By submission | 2 | 1 |
By decision | 2 | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 10–4 | Miguel Baeza | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov | June 8, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Louisville, Kentucky, United States | Welterweight debut. |
Loss | 9–4 | Dustin Stoltzfus | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan | December 2, 2023 | 2 | 4:10 | Austin, Texas, United States | |
Loss | 9–3 | Roman Kopylov | TKO (body kick and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov | January 14, 2023 | 2 | 3:19 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 9–2 | Dalcha Lungiambula | KO (punches) | UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez | July 16, 2022 | 2 | 0:28 | Elmont, New York, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Loss | 8–2 | Nick Maximov | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland | February 5, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 8–1 | Brendan Allen | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw | July 24, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 8–0 | Duško Todorović | TKO (punches) | UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar | January 16, 2021 | 1 | 4:48 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
Win | 7–0 | Oskar Piechota | KO (punch) | UFC 245 | December 14, 2019 | 1 | 3:17 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 6–0 | Jamie Pickett | Decision (unanimous) | Dana White's Contender Series 17 | June 18, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 5–0 | Jhonoven Pati | Submission (rear-naked choke) | LFA 52 | October 19, 2018 | 1 | 3:36 | Belton, Texas, United States | |
Win | 4–0 | James Horne | TKO (punches) | V3 Fights 69 | June 16, 2018 | 1 | 0:45 | Memphis, Tennessee, United States | |
Win | 3–0 | Rafael Celestino | KO (punches) | Titan FC 49 | April 6, 2018 | 1 | 0:31 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
Win | 2–0 | Jon Gover | TKO (punches) | PFL Everett | July 29, 2017 | 1 | 2:36 | Everett, Washington, United States | Middleweight debut. |
Win | 1–0 | Jon Ferrell | Submission (rear-naked choke) | X-1 World Events 45: Live | January 28, 2017 | 1 | 2:20 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Heavyweight debut. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
- ^ "Punahele Soriano | UFC". UFC.com. July 5, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "Ex-Wartburg All-American Soriano earns UFC contract". InterMat. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
- ^ jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com, JIM NELSON (March 14, 2013). "Wartburg's 'Puna' has learned to love the snow". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
- ^ "Punahele Soriano - Wrestling". Wartburg College Athletics. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
- ^ "DWCS: Meet the undefeated contract winner Punahele Soriano". FanSided. June 20, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
- ^ "Punahele Soriano ("Puna") | MMA Fighter Page".
- ^ Lee, Alexander K. (July 29, 2017). "PFL: Everett Results: Harrison vs. Rodriguez". MMA Fighting. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ "Titan FC 49 Results: Soares Stuns and Submits Gomez, Wins Featherweight Title". Combat Press. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ "LFA 52 Results & Highlights: Submissions Were the Order of the Night | MMAWeekly.com". October 20, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ MMA, LowKick (June 19, 2019). "Dana White's Contender Series 17 Results: Two Fighters Earn Contracts". LowKickMMA.com. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
- ^ "Twee nieuwe gevechten toegevoegd aan UFC 245 in Las Vegas". MMA DNA. September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^ Shillan, Keith (December 14, 2019). "UFC 245 Results: Punahele Soriano Brutally Knocks Out Oskar Piechota in the First Round". Cageside Press. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (January 16, 2021). "UFC Fight Island 7 Results: Punahele Soriano Drops Dusko Todorovic Repeatedly, Remains Perfect". Cageside Press. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ John Morgan and Nolan King (March 18, 2021). "Anthony Hernandez vs. Punahele Soriano set for UFC Fight Night in June". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ Mike Bohn (April 9, 2020). "Kevin Holland replaces Puna Soriano, meets Anthony Hernandez on UFC's May 16 card". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ Mike Heck (May 25, 2020). "With Anthony Hernandez out, Puna Soriano now meets Brendan Allen at UFC event on July 24". mmafighting.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (July 24, 2021). "UFC Vegas 32 Results: Brendan Allen's Body Work Key in Win Over Soriano". Cageside Press. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ Behunin, Alex (November 13, 2021). "Punahele Soriano and Nick Maximov Will Face off at UFC Event on Feb. 5". Cageside Press. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (February 5, 2022). "UFC Vegas 47: Nick Maximov Takes Close Split Decision Against Punahele Soriano". Cageside Press. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ "Nick Maximov def. Punahele Soriano :: UFC on ESPN+ 58 :: MMA Decisions". www.mmadecisions.com. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (June 1, 2022). "UFC Long Island Set to Air on ABC, Multiple Fights Announced for July 16 Event". Cageside Press. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ Behunin, Alex (July 16, 2022). "UFC Long Island: Punahele Soriano Knocks Out Former Teammate Dalcha Lungiambula". Cageside Press. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ^ a b Kristen King (July 16, 2022). "UFC Long Island post-fight bonuses: Matt Schnell's all-time comeback nets him $50,000". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
- ^ Bartłomiej Zubkiewicz (November 18, 2022). "Punahele Soriano kontra Roman Kopylov na styczniowej gali UFC Vegas 67". mmarocks.pl. Retrieved November 18, 2022. (in Polish)
- ^ Val Dewar (January 14, 2023). "UFC Vegas 67: Roman Kopylov Harnesses Body Shots to TKO Punahele Soriano". Cageside Press. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ Arshad (April 21, 2023). "Punahele Soriano vs Sedriques Dumas Set for UFC Jacksonville". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ Damon Martin (June 15, 2023). "Punahele Soriano out; Cody Brundage steps in to face Sedriques Dumas at UFC Jacksonville". mmafighting.com. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- ^ Heck, Mike (September 20, 2023). "Punahele Soriano vs. Dustin Stoltzfus set for Dec. 2 UFC event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
- ^ Morehouse, Cade (December 3, 2023). "UFC Austin: Dustin Stoltzfus Bounces Back with Sub of Punahele Soriano". Cageside Press. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
- ^ Heck, Mike (April 11, 2024). "Punahele Soriano moves to 170, welcomes Miguel Baeza back at June 8 UFC event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (June 9, 2024). "UFC Louisville: Punahele Soriano Overpowers Miguel Baeza in 170lb Debut". Cageside Press. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Nikola Novaković (October 12, 2024). "Uroš Medić se vraća u UFC oktagon: Rivala mu dobro poznajemo" (in Serbian). n1info.rs. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
- ^ "Record Book - All Division - Fight Stats - UFC". statleaders.ufc.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Record Book - Welterweight Fight Stats - UFC". statleaders.ufc.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ "UFC on ESPN 57 post-event facts: Punahele Soriano sets multiple new all-time UFC records". MMA Junkie. June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ "Record Book - All Division - Round Stats - UFC". statleaders.ufc.com. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ "Punahele Soriano". Sherdog. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
External links
[edit]- 1992 births
- Living people
- American male judoka
- American male mixed martial artists
- American male sport wrestlers
- Middleweight mixed martial artists
- Mixed martial artists utilizing collegiate wrestling
- Mixed martial artists utilizing judo
- Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters
- People from Kauai County, Hawaii
- Mixed martial artists from Hawaii
- Wartburg Knights wrestlers
- 21st-century American sportsmen