Quick Facts

Henan Punahele American mixed martial artist Michael Soriano, better known by his stage name Puna, competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Right now, he holds the #15 spot in the UFC middleweight rankings.

In his professional career, Soriano has won nine times, lost three times, and won twice via submission. His wrestling background, violent manner, and explosive force are what make him well-known.

How much is the Net worth of Punahele Soriano?

Punahele Soriano is a professional mixed martial artist that fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the middleweight class. Having prevailed in each of his four UFC fights to far, he is one of the sport’s rising stars. He also goes by the moniker “Puna Bomber” due to his powerful striking and knockout ability.

The sportsman is thought to be worth $1 million. His employment as a professional mixed martial artist provides the majority of his income. According to several accounts, he has made $174,000 from his four UFC bouts thus far. In addition, he holds sponsorship agreements with firms such as Monster Energy.

A Hawaiian Wrestler Turned MMA Fighter

Soriano, a former Hawaiian wrestler who is now an MMA fighter, was born in Wailua, Kauai County, Hawaii, on November 22, 1992. Kahuku is located on Oahu’s North Shore, where he completed his high school education. At the collegiate level, he participated in judo, football, and wrestling.

At Wartburg College in Iowa, where he pursued his wrestling career, the UFC star placed seventh at the 2014 NCAA Championships in the 197-pound weight class, earning him All-America recognition. Being the first-ever Division III wrestling qualifier from Hawaii, he created history.

Dan Ige, a friend and current UFC fighter, encouraged Soriano to assist in teaching MMA fighters how to wrestle, which sparked his interest in mixed martial arts (MMA). When he got his college degree, he made the decision to go into mixed martial arts.

MMA Debut

On January 28, 2017, at X-1 World Events 45 in Hawaii, Cristiano submitted his opponent in the opening round of his professional mixed martial arts debut.

Subsequently, he moved to the mainland and participated in several competitions such as the Professional Fighters League (PFL), Titan FC, V3 Fights, and Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA). He had never lost and had won seven of his fights with submissions or knockouts in the first frame.

On June 18, 2019, Soriano participated in a Contender Series event hosted by Dana White and was granted entry into the UFC. He was given a UFC contract after defeating Jamie Pickett by unanimous decision. In his UFC debut, he defeated Oskar Piechota via first-round knockout on December 14, 2019, at UFC 245.

Soriano defeated his opponents in the opening round of his next two UFC fights against Dalcha Lungiambula and Dusko Todorovic. It was his first UFC defeat, coming from a unanimous decision loss against Brendan Allen on July 24, 2021. On January 14, 2023, he won his next fight by second-round knockout over Roman Kopylov.

How Punahele Soriano Plans to Conquer the UFC Middleweight Division?

Soriano is one of the most intriguing up-and-comers in the UFC middleweight division. His ability to strike and grapple has helped him put a stop to fights. In addition, he hopes to guide the upcoming Hawaiian warriors to triumph.

Soriano has expressed a desire to improve both his professional standing and fighting frequency. Brad Tavares, Kevin Holland, Sean Strickland, and other possible opponents have already answered his challenges. His ultimate goal is to become the middleweight champion of the UFC.

The audience is always excited and amused when he steps into the ring. He’s doing well, and it appears like his future is bright. It’s time for Punahele Soriano to make her appearance.

Does Punahele Soriano Have a Partner?

Mixed martial artist Punahele Soriano fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the middleweight class. Aarica Barcina is Soriano’s long-term girlfriend; the two are not married.

They frequently post pictures of themselves on social media and have been dating for at least five years. They train at Xtreme Couture and are based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Renowned gym Xtreme Couture is home to numerous UFC champions and Hall of Famers, including Miesha Tate, Randy Couture, and Forrest Griffin.

Family and Education

Although Punahele Soriano has disclosed that he received his Hawaiian ancestry from his mother and his Filipino background from his father, the public is unaware of his parents’ identities. At Kahuku High School in Laie, Hawaii, where he completed his high school career, Soriano was a standout wrestler and judo player who captured state championships in both sports.

Furthermore, he pursued his wrestling career at Iowa’s Division III Wartburg College, where he finished as an All-American with an 80-29 record. In 2015, he graduated with a degree in business administration.

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