Michel Pereira (born 6 October 1993) is a Brazilian

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorpo ...

currently competing as a

Welterweight Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify th ...

in the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

. A professional competitor since 2011, he formerly competed for 300 Sparta, Akhmat Fight Club, Serbian Battle Championship, Jungle Fight,

Xtreme Fighting Championships Xtreme Fighting Championships (XFC) is a premier international mixed martial arts (MMA) organization based in Spring Lake, Michigan, with offices throughout the United States and South America. The XFC showcases both male and female fighters, ad ...

and

Road Fighting Championship Road Fighting Championship (Road FC; ) is a South Korean-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion which was officially launched in 2010. Prior to December 2016, Road FC had held 52 events in three countries - South Korea, Japan, and China. Abou ...

. He is a former Serbian Battle Championship Welterweight Champion. As of February 14, 2023, he is #15 in the UFC welterweight rankings.

Background

Pereira was born in Tucumã, Pará, Brazil. He started training karate at the age of 12, complementing his skillset with Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the age of 16 onwards.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Michel Pereira began his professional mixed martial arts career fighting in regional promotions of his native state of Brazil,

Pará Pará is a state of Brazil, located in northern Brazil and traversed by the lower Amazon River. It borders the Brazilian states of Amapá, Maranhão, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Roraima. To the northwest are the borders of Guyana ...

, as well as 300 Sparta, amassing a professional record of 9–3 with notable wins over the veterans Daziel da Silva Jr. and Silmar Nunes. These early wins earned a chance to fight with the bigger promotions. Such as Jungle Fight and XFC. In his first fight and only fight with Jungle Fight, he faced Junior Orgulho. He won by a unanimous decision. His next fight was a loss versus Junior de Oliveira with Iron Man CF. After a win against Caio Robson, Michel Pereira earned a contract with XFC. Fighting on the prelims of XFC International 7, Pereira faced Geraldo Coelho. Responding to his opponent's pressure with clinching and a takedown, Pereira ended the fight in the third round by way of a guillotine choke. His next fight was on the prelims of XFC International 9, during which he faced Cairo Rocha. With various techniques such as wheel kicks and flying knees, Michel earned a victory through a unanimous decision. These two victories gave him a main even fight against Carlston Harris, which Pereira lost through a unanimous decision. Following this Pereira fought with various promotions during which he lost a decision against Abubakar Vagaev, Ismael de Jesus and Kurbanjiang Tuluosibake, while also netting wins against Stanley Barbosa by way of an arm triangle choke, as well decisions against Renato Gomes and Cristiano Estela Rios.

Serbian Battle Championship and Road FC

His 16–8 record earned him a chance to fight for the vacant SBC Welterweight Championship against Luka Strezoski at SBC 15 on 8 December 2017. Pereira won a majority decision. Pereira was scheduled to defend his SBC title against Laerte Costa at SBC 17 on 18 April 2018. He won the fight by a first-round rear naked choke submission. Moving away from SBC, Pereira was scheduled to face Carlos Perira at Arena Fight 8 on 12 May 2018, in a 176 lbs catchweight bout. The fight ended in a no-contest, due to a cage malfunction. His next fight was likewise a 176 lbs catchweight about, against Ryul Kim at HEAT 42 on 27 May 2018. The fight was Pereira's South Korean debut. Pereira won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Pereira was next scheduled to face Hea Jun Yang at Road FC 48. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Pereira remained on the South Korean circuit for his next fight, being scheduled to fight Batmunkh Burenzorig at HEAT 43 on 17 September 2018. Although he won the fight by a read-naked choke submission, the result was later overturned into a no-contest, due to Periera missing weight. Pereira was scheduled to make his second SBC Middlweight title defense against

Duško Todorović Duško Todorović (born May 19, 1994) is a Serbian mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Todorović started training taekwondo around the age of eight, continuing u ...

at SBC 19 on 1 December 2018. Todorović won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Periera was scheduled to face Won Jun Choi at Road FC 051 XX on 15 December 2018, in a 190 lbs catchweight bout. Pereira won the fight by a 41-second knockout. Pereira was scheduled to face the heavyweight Dae Sung Kim at Road FC 052 on 23 February 2019, in an openweight bout. Pereira beat Kim by a second-round technical knockout.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Pereira's first fight in the UFC was scheduled for 18 May 2019 at

UFC Fight Night 152 ''UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 152'' or ''UFC on ESPN+ 10'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on May 18, 2019 at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, ...

against Danny Roberts Pereira utilized unorthodox striking techniques, including an attempted showtime kick, and superman punch, before winning the fight via knockout early in round one. Periera was awarded a '' Performance of the Night'' award. Pereira's next fight was scheduled for UFC Fight Night 158 against Sergey Khandozhko. Sergey would face visa issues and was replaced by the Canadian Tristan Connelly. Pereira missed weight by 2 pounds. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. MMA Junkie would pick this fight as their "Upset of the Year". The fight was awarded a '' Fight of the Night ''award. for which Pereira was ineligible as he missed weight, which meant Pereira forfeited 30% of his purse, as well as his $50,000 share of the FOTN award Pereira's third UFC opponent was Diego Sanchez whom he faced at

UFC Fight Night 167 The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

on 15 February 2020. Pereira dominated Sanchez for most of the fight but was disqualified for hitting Sanchez with an illegal knee while he was grounded. Pereira faced Zelim Imadaev on 5 September 2020 at

UFC Fight Night 176 ''UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 176'', ''UFC on ESPN+ 34'' and ''UFC Vegas 9'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 5, 2020 at the UFC ...

. There was controversy during the weigh-ins as Imadaev slapped Pereira in the face, and both had to be restrained by the event's staff. Pereira dominated the fight, and slapped Imadaev back several times, before winning the fight via submission in the third round. This win earned him a Performance of the Night award. Pereira faced

Khaos Williams Kalinn "Khaos" Williams (born March 30, 1994) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Williams got his first taste of knockouts in 2008 when he floored anoth ...

on 19 December 2020 at

UFC Fight Night 183 ''UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 183'', ''UFC on ESPN+ 41'' and ''UFC Vegas 17'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on December 19, 2020 at the UF ...

. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Pereira faced

Niko Price Nicholas Gordon Price (born September 29, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Born and raised in Cape Coral, Florida, Price attended Marine ...

on 10 July 2021 at

UFC 264 ''UFC 264: Poirier vs. McGregor 3'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 10, 2021 at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States. ...

. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Pereira was scheduled to face Muslim Salikhov on 15 January 2022 at

UFC on ESPN 32 ''UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze'' (also known as ''UFC on ESPN 32 '' and ''UFC Vegas 46'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on January 15, 2022 at the UFC Apex facility in Enterpri ...

. However, Salikhov withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and the bout was cancelled. Pereira fought André Fialho on 22 January 2022 at

UFC 270 ''UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on January 22, 2022 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Background A UFC Heavyweight Championship title unificati ...

. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Pereira faced

Santiago Ponzinibbio Santiago Ponzinibbio (born September 26, 1986) is an Argentines, Argentine mixed martial artist competing as a Welterweight (MMA), Welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background He was born in Argentina to parents of Italian ...

on May 21, 2022 at

UFC Fight Night 206 ''UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 206'', ''UFC on ESPN+ 64'' or ''UFC Vegas 55'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on May 21, 2022, at the UFC Apex ...

. He won the fight via split decision. This fight earned him the '' Fight of the Night'' award. Pereira was scheduled to face Sean Brady on March 25, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 43. However, Brady pulled out in mid-February due to a tore groin and the bout was scrapped.

Championships and achievements

Mixed martial arts

** Performance of the Night (Two Times) ** Fight of the Night (Two Times) *Serbian Battle Championship **Serbian Battle Championship Welterweight Championship (One time) ***One Successful Title Defence * MMAjunkie.com **2022 May Fight of the Month

Mixed martial arts record

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, Decision (split) , UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...

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Anaheim, California Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the 10th-most ...

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, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 23–11 (2) , Diego Sanchez , DQ (illegal knee) , UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:09 ,

Rio Rancho, New Mexico Rio Rancho ( es, Río Rancho) is the most populous and only city in Sandoval County, part of the expansive Albuquerque metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. A small portion of the city extends into northern Bernalillo County. It i ...

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Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The ...

, Canada , , - , Win , align=center, 23–9 (2) , Danny Roberts , KO (flying knee and punch) , UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:47 ,

Rochester, New York Rochester () is a city in the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Monroe County, and the fourth-most populous in the state after New York City, Buffalo, and Yonkers, with a population of 211,328 at the 2020 United States census. Located in W ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 22–9 (2) , Dae Sung Kim , TKO (knees) , Road FC 052 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:02 ,

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...

, South Korea , , - , Win , align=center, 21–9 (2) , Won Jun Choi , KO (punch) , Road FC 051 XX , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:41 ,

, South Korea , , - , Loss , align=center, 20–9 (2) ,

, TKO (punches) , Serbian Battle Championship 19 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:32 ,

Novi Sad Novi Sad ( sr-Cyrl, Нови Сад, ; hu, Újvidék, ; german: Neusatz; see below for other names) is the second largest city in Serbia and the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It is located in the southern portion of the Pan ...

, Serbia , , - , NC , align=center, 20–8 (2) , Batmunkh Burenzorig , NC (overturned) , HEAT 43 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 1:46 ,

Aichi is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture ...

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 20–8 (1) , Hea Jun Yang , TKO (knee and punches) , Road FC 48 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 1:48 ,

Wonju Wonju () is the most populous city in Gangwon Province, South Korea. The city is located approximately east of Seoul. Wonju was the site of three crucial battles during the Korean War. Geography Wonju sits at the southwestern corner of Gangw ...

, South Korea , , - , Win , align=center, 19–8 (1) , Ryul Kim , TKO , HEAT 42 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:51 ,

, Japan , , - , NC , align=center, 18–8 (1) , Carlos Perira , NC (cage malfunction) , Arena Fight 8 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:52 ,

Redenção Redenção (Portuguese for " redemption") may refer to: Places * Redenção, Ceará, Brazil * Redenção, Pará, Brazil * Redenção da Serra, São Paulo, Brazil Entertainment * Redenção (album), the fourth album by the Brazilian alternative roc ...

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 18–8 , Laerte Costa , Submission (rear-naked choke) , SBC 17 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:02 ,

Odžaci Odžaci ( sr-cyrl, Оџаци, ; hu, Hódság) is a town and municipality located in the West Bačka District of the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. The town of Odžaci has a population of 8,795 people, while the population of the mu ...

, Serbia , , - , Win , align=center, 17–8 , Luka Strezoski , Decision (majority) , SBC 15 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Serbia , , - , Loss , align=center, 16–8 , Kurbanjiang Tuluosibake , Decision (unanimous) , Kunlun Fight MMA 15 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Alashan, Mongolia , , - , Win , align=center, 16–7 , Renato Gomes , Submission (triangle choke) , TAURA MMA 1 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 0:54 ,

Viamão Viamão is a city in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In size it is the largest municipality in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre and the seventh most populous in the state. The origin of the name Viamão is controversial. The more common explan ...

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 15–7 , Cristiano Estela Rios , Decision (unanimous) , Fusion FC 24 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of ...

, Peru , , - , Loss , align=center, 14–7 , Ismael de Jesus , Decision (unanimous) , Shooto Brasil 67 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a ...

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 14–6 , Stanley Barbosa , Submission (arm-triangle choke) , Revelation FC 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:56 ,

Belém Belém (; Portuguese for Bethlehem; initially called Nossa Senhora de Belém do Grão-Pará, in English Our Lady of Bethlehem of Great Pará) often called Belém of Pará, is a Brazilian city, capital and largest city of the state of Pará in t ...

, Brazil , , - , Loss , align=center, 13–6 , Abubakar Vagaev , Decision (unanimous) , Akhmat Fight Show 18 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Grozny Grozny ( rus, Грозный, p=ˈgroznɨj; ce, Соьлжа-ГӀала, translit=Sölƶa-Ġala), also spelled Groznyy, is the capital city of Chechnya, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the 2010 census, it had a po ...

, Russia , , - , Loss , align=center, 13–5 , Carlston Harris , Decision (unanimous) , XFC International 12 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the Ga ...

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 13–4 , Cairo Rocha , Decision (unanimous) , XFC International 9 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 12–4 , Geraldo Coelho , Submission (guillotine choke) , XFC International 7 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:40 ,

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 11–4 , Caio Robson Silva , TKO (retirement) , Arena Fight 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Brazil , , - , Loss , align=center, 10–4 , Zozimar de Oliveria Silva Jr. , Submission (armbar) , Iron Man CF 18 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 10–3 , Alfredo Souza , Decision (unanimous) , Jungle Fight 65 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Madre de Deus, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 9–3 , Silmar Nunes , Submission (triangle choke) , Tucumã Fighting Show 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:18 , Tucumã, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 8–3 , Jaime Cordoba , Decision (unanimous) , 300 Sparta MMA 4 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 7–3 , Daziel Serafrim da Silva Jr. , Decision (unanimous) , The Green Fight , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Paragominas Paragominas is a municipality in the state of Pará in the Northern region of Brazil. Paragominas mine, one of the largest bauxite mines in the world, is approximately 70 km away. According to an estimate dated 1 July 2020, the city has a pop ...

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 6–3 , Renato Puente Flores , Submission (armbar) , 300 Sparta MMA 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 5–3 , Reginaldo Ferreira Alves , TKO , Arena Sport Combat , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:12 , Xinguara, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 4–3 , Franciney dos Santos Bessa , TKO (doctor stoppage) , Marajó Fight 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:52 , Soure, Brazil , , - , Loss , align=center, 3–3 , Rubenilton Perreira , Decision (unanimous) , MMA Dragon Fighters , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Ourilândia do Norte, Brazil , , - , Loss , align=center, 3–2 , Rubenilton Perreira , Decision (unanimous) , Tucumã Fighting Show 3 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Tucumã, Brazil , , - , Loss , align=center, 3–1 , Bruno Leandro Soares , Decision (unanimous) , Colisão Top Fight , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Tucumã, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Sivaldo Alves da Silva , Decision (unanimous) , Tucumã Fighting Show 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Tucumã, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Magno Silva , TKO (punches) , Tucumã Fighting Show 1 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 , Tucumã, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Edson Dias , TKO (punches) , Dragon Fight Championship , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:20 , Ourilândia do Norte, Brazil , , -

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pereira, Michel 1993 births Living people Brazilian male mixed martial artists Welterweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Mixed martial artists utilizing karate Brazilian male karateka Brazilian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters People from Marabá Sportspeople from Pará