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The UFC will host its first ever event on Kiwi soil with UFC Fight Night: Te Huna versus Marquardt at the Vector Arena on Saturday June 28.
The main event will feature New Zealand native James Te Huna making his middleweight debut against former top contender Nate ‘The Great’ Marquardt.
The co-main event will be a heavyweight clash between Soa ‘The Hulk’ Palelei against decorated collegiate wreslter Jared Rosholt.
The following are select quotes from UFC Media day.
Te Huna versus Marquardt
“Yeah, it is (my biggest challenge). It’s a very big challenge. The last couple of fights I’ve been there before against top opponents. This one here where I’m headlining the very first UFC show in New Zealand means a lot to me. I’m just going to enjoy it, it’s a dream come true.” – Te Huna on his first main event fight.
“I feel like (middleweight) is where I was supposed to fight. I made some wrong choices dropping down and I was guided back (by God) to 185. I had basically no other option that I saw.” – Marquardt on his return to middleweight.
“I’m pretty confident about my cardio at the moment. Being in my home country is going to give me more motivation through the rounds. (The fans) just give you so much more power and confidence. Winning the fight and performing out there means a lot to me. I’m in my comfort zone and (Marquardt) is not so everything is going to be new to him.” – Te Huna on his hometown advantage.
“I’ve always felt like I was one of the strongest guys in the middleweight division. I’ve never really felt like someone was stronger or overpowered me in a fight. In training I feel like I can go with the light-heavyweight guys and even the heavyweights as far as strength and power.” – Marquardt on returning to the middleweight division against bigger opponents.
Soa Palelei versus Jared Rosholt
“I kind of want to keep busy and keep active. I think once you stop when you finish a fight, you go stale. If you keep active the motor keeps running and my weight’s down as well. That’s the main thing.” – Palelei on his busy fight schedule (three fights since August 2013).
“It’s very important. When you get on top of somebody and pound them out the way he has in the past couple of fights, you don’t want to be underneath him. Not only that, he’s a big guy. We’ve prepared well – (collegiate) wrestlers brought in, guys that weight 300lbs getting on top of me and starting from the worst possible position with me trying to get out. But I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I don’t end up underneath him.” – Rosholt on the importance of not letting Palelei end up on top.
“I think Daniel Cormier is the top of the tee. He’s up there with the best. Last time I fought him, he kicked my ass. After that, I thought to myself ‘I’m never going to lose again’. It’s been awesome, 11 fights later and here I am. I think I’m more mature and better than I was back then.” – Palelei on the changes he’s made since he last fought a high-level wrestler.
“I would have to say I do. There is nobody in the UFC heavyweight division that has my wrestling credentials. I don’t know what (Palelei’s are) – I’ve heard he was a freestyle wrestler for Australia but (wrestling) here isn’t as big as it is in the U.S. with all the talent we have there.” – Rosholt on who holds the advantage in wrestling.
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