He's a force to be reckoned with in the ring, but Perth mixed martial arts star Soa "The Hulk" Palelei swapped the Octagon for synoptic charts recently, reading the weather for Channel 10.

No, popular presenter Michael Schultz hasn't been replaced – the fighter was put up to the task by hit92.9 breakfast team Heidi, Will and Woody as part of an I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here themed radio stunt.

"I thought they were going to throw me in the water, make me swim with sharks," Palelei said.

"I was kind of relieved in a way, but it put me on the spot. It was pretty nerve-wracking!"

The radio trio blindfolded the fearsome fighter, led him into the studio and revealed the task 10 seconds before the cameras started rolling.

"I looked and I saw cameras and realised it was the news. Because I had the blindfold on for 30 minutes, I couldn't really see properly," the fighter said.

"I was trying to refocus my eyes, but I had to just do it because I didn't want to look silly on TV.

"I guess it's similar to what I do. When you're ready to roll you have to walk down that corridor by yourself and you either have to bring it or be laughed at."

After a few seconds, Palelei found his rhythm and even managed to crack a few jokes.

"The hottest spot today was Marble Bar. I've been there, great club," he said.

He even took an ill-timed hiccup in his stride.

"Sorry about that, hot dog," he said, as the studio crew giggled.

Soa the Hulk didn't know it at the time, but his efforts on-screen were not put to air live.

"I was sweating, really sweating. It was something different!" he laughed.

With his weather debut now behind him, Soa joked that Channel 10 weatherman Michael Schultz was in his sights.

"I think he should be watching his back, for sure. He should be worried," he laughed.

"I'll be gunning for his job."

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