Although there aren't many fans who immediately jump at the idea of watching either of these two ply their wares, this contest should not be so readily dismissed. Both men have shown flashes of potential and are ready to show that past disappointments have fueled great improvement.
Palelei (8-1) in particular is determined to play Father Karras and exorcise the demons of his loss to Mu Bae Choi (Pictures) three years ago. Entering that bout, Palelei was a well-regarded heavyweight prospect boasting an undefeated record and the same kind of macho bravado that reminded some of another famous Samoan brawler, Mark Hunt (Pictures).
Initially it appeared as though the hype was well deserved. Palelei outclassed Choi for most of the bout before it became apparent that his conditioning program was more pizza and beer than fish and leafy greens.
A late submission loss was the price Palelei paid, but more importantly, he realized that talent isn't the infinity gauntlet of MMA. Wisely leaving the team he started in Perth, Australia, and moving to California to join the Temecula-based Team Quest gym, Palelei has spent the last three years refining his game and is finally ready to make his return.
When Eddie Sanchez (7-1) made his debut in the self-proclaimed "Super Bowl of MMA," he was regarded as little more than chum for prized acquisition Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. Sanchez did lose to "Cro Cop," but he put up a spirited effort and earned himself a second trip inside the Octagon for signing the fight in the first place.
The return engagement played out to Sanchez's favor when he defeated Irish brawler Colin Robinson in a fight that was more back-and-forth than Mel Gibson's alcoholism. If Sanchez is going to establish himself in the UFC, however, he'll have to transcend the stereotypical heavyweight brawler mold that he has become associated with.
That will be a tall task against Palelei, who holds a significant size advantage and is not at all shy about taking opponents down. Given how poor Sanchez's ground game looked against Robinson, his only option is to keep this bout standing against an opponent capable of out-striking him.
Unless Palelei engages in a pointless slugfest, he should have no problem finding the holes in Sanchez's defense and scoring a takedown that will function as the precursor to a first-round armbar win.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Unless Sanchez ditches his "Manic Hispanic" moniker, he can forget about making it big in MMA.