Michel Pereira
Demolidor
Brazil
Removed from UFC roster
Pereira has been removed from the UFC's roster, according to Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting.
ANALYSIS
Back in June, Pereira had completed his previous contract before signing a one-fight contract to fight Shara Magomedov. The single-fight deal is now complete, and the UFC has opted not to re-sign, backed up by his roster removal. With the promotion, Pereira began 9-2 with exciting fights and finishes in between. But since then, he has gone 1-4, with his lone win via split decision.
Back in June, Pereira had completed his previous contract before signing a one-fight contract to fight Shara Magomedov. The single-fight deal is now complete, and the UFC has opted not to re-sign, backed up by his roster removal. With the promotion, Pereira began 9-2 with exciting fights and finishes in between. But since then, he has gone 1-4, with his lone win via split decision.
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Fades after fast start
Pereira lost to Shara Magomedov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Baku on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Pereira got off to a fast start by dropping Magomedov with a Round 1 right hand but was unable to get the finish. It's likely Pereira deserved a better fate, as Magomedov had to be warned by referee Herb Dean for repeated hair pulls, as well as later in the fight with a Round 3 eye poke. As it stands, however, Magomedov was the more active fighter in Rounds 2 and 3, and Pereira will be handed his fourth loss in his last five trips to the Octagon. He's no doubt an exciting fighter, but Pereira has typically struggled when the competition level raises, and the results just haven't been falling his way for the last few years.
Pereira got off to a fast start by dropping Magomedov with a Round 1 right hand but was unable to get the finish. It's likely Pereira deserved a better fate, as Magomedov had to be warned by referee Herb Dean for repeated hair pulls, as well as later in the fight with a Round 3 eye poke. As it stands, however, Magomedov was the more active fighter in Rounds 2 and 3, and Pereira will be handed his fourth loss in his last five trips to the Octagon. He's no doubt an exciting fighter, but Pereira has typically struggled when the competition level raises, and the results just haven't been falling his way for the last few years.
Facing Magomedov in June
Pereira will take on Shara Megomedov at UFC Baku on June 27, per MMAFighting.com.
ANALYSIS
Pereira will head into the bout coming off a recent victory over Zach Reese in February. The 32-year-old Brazilian measures up an inch shorter with identical reach compared to the younger Dagestani fighter. Pereira has a well balanced professional record across finishes, allowing him a versatile approach to this fight, though he will have to remain wary of Megomedov's considerable stopping power (12-0 professional record in KO/TKO finishes).
Pereira will head into the bout coming off a recent victory over Zach Reese in February. The 32-year-old Brazilian measures up an inch shorter with identical reach compared to the younger Dagestani fighter. Pereira has a well balanced professional record across finishes, allowing him a versatile approach to this fight, though he will have to remain wary of Megomedov's considerable stopping power (12-0 professional record in KO/TKO finishes).
Snaps three-fight losing streak
Pereira defeated Zachary Reese via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Houston.
ANALYSIS
Entering having lost three straight and staring down the barrel of a fourth consecutive defeat, Pereira should thank his lucky stars that two of the three judges thought he did enough to win. To be fair, he landed the bigger blows in the early going before gassing out in a major way. If Reese had any cardio of his own, Pereira would have been blown out of the water late. Instead, the two fought to fairly even terms in Rounds 2 and 3 despite the fact the visuals favored Reese. Despite the good fortune, Pereira still looks nothing like the guy that won eight straight from September 2020 to May 2024. He's still probably a release candidate if he no-shows his next fight.
Entering having lost three straight and staring down the barrel of a fourth consecutive defeat, Pereira should thank his lucky stars that two of the three judges thought he did enough to win. To be fair, he landed the bigger blows in the early going before gassing out in a major way. If Reese had any cardio of his own, Pereira would have been blown out of the water late. Instead, the two fought to fairly even terms in Rounds 2 and 3 despite the fact the visuals favored Reese. Despite the good fortune, Pereira still looks nothing like the guy that won eight straight from September 2020 to May 2024. He's still probably a release candidate if he no-shows his next fight.
Slated to fight Reese
Pereira will fight Zachary Reese at UFC Houston on Feb. 21, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
After taking a third consecutive loss courtesy of Kyle Daukaus in August, Pereira will surely be desperate to turn things around to begin 2026. That may be easier said than done, however, as his next opponent enters the fight having won two of his last three fights and also holds a significant size advantage over Pereira.
After taking a third consecutive loss courtesy of Kyle Daukaus in August, Pereira will surely be desperate to turn things around to begin 2026. That may be easier said than done, however, as his next opponent enters the fight having won two of his last three fights and also holds a significant size advantage over Pereira.
Third consecutive defeat
Pereira lost to Kyle Daukaus via KO (punches and elbows) at 0:43 of Round 1 at UFC Shanghai on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Pereira takes his third consecutive loss here, and this one was by far the worst, as he managed just two significant strikes before getting finished in under a minute. His aggressiveness hurt him here, as he ran into a short right hook early that sat him down, and moments later he was getting knocked out cold by elbows. This was a fight Pereira had to have as betting favorite in the ballpark of (-250), and to get knocked out by a fighter primary known for his submissions is not a great look to say the least. While Pereira is typically electrifying and entertaining, he's past "prospect" status at the age of 31, and the results of late show clearly he doesn't stack up against higher-level middleweights.
Pereira takes his third consecutive loss here, and this one was by far the worst, as he managed just two significant strikes before getting finished in under a minute. His aggressiveness hurt him here, as he ran into a short right hook early that sat him down, and moments later he was getting knocked out cold by elbows. This was a fight Pereira had to have as betting favorite in the ballpark of (-250), and to get knocked out by a fighter primary known for his submissions is not a great look to say the least. While Pereira is typically electrifying and entertaining, he's past "prospect" status at the age of 31, and the results of late show clearly he doesn't stack up against higher-level middleweights.