# Michel Pereira

Michel Fagner Lima Pereira (born 6 October 1993) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2011, he formerly competed for 300 Sparta, Akhmat Fight Club, Serbian Battle Championship, Jungle Fight, Xtreme Fighting Championships and Road Fighting Championship. He is a former Serbian Battle Championship welterweight champion. As of 11 March 2025, he is #14 in the UFC middleweight 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, 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 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 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 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. 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 on 19 December 2020 at UFC Fight Night 183. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Pereira faced Niko Price on 10 July 2021 at UFC 264. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Pereira was scheduled to face Muslim Salikhov on 15 January 2022 at UFC on ESPN 32. 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. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Pereira faced Santiago Ponzinibbio on 21 May 2022 at UFC Fight Night 206. 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 25 March 2023, at UFC on ESPN 43. However, Brady pulled out in mid-February due to a torn groin and the bout was scrapped.
Pereira was scheduled to face Stephen Thompson on 29 July 2023 at UFC 291. However, at the weigh-ins, Pereira weighed at 174 pounds, 3 pounds over the non-title welterweight limit. As a result, the bout was scrapped.
After a 17-month layoff, Pereira was scheduled to return to the middleweight division, facing Marc-André Barriault on 14 October 2023, at UFC Fight Night 230. However, Barriault withdrew due to medical issues and was replaced by Andre Petroski. Pereira won the fight via technical knockout in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Pereira faced Michal Oleksiejczuk on 9 March 2024, at UFC 299. He won the bout by a rear-naked choke submission. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.
Pereira was scheduled to face Makhmud Muradov on 4 May 2024, at UFC 301. However, Muradov withdrew due to an infection, and he was replaced by Ihor Potieria. He won the bout early in the bout via guillotine choke. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.
It was briefly announced that Pereira would face Roman Dolidze on 8 June 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57. However, Pereira claimed he never signed any contracts for the fight and the bout fell through.
Pereira was scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez on 14 September 2024 at UFC 306. However, the bout was rescheduled to 19 October 2024 to serve as the main event at UFC Fight Night 245. He lost the fight by technical knockout as a result of significant control time and ground strikes in the fifth round.
Pereira is scheduled to face Abusupiyan Magomedov on 26 April 2025 at UFC on ESPN 66.

## Championships and achievements
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (Five times) vs. Danny Roberts, Zelim Imadaev, Andre Petroski, Michał Oleksiejczuk and Ihor Potieria
** Fight of the Night (Two Times) vs. Tristan Connelly and Santiago Ponzinibbio
* Serbian Battle Championship
** SBC Welterweight Championship (One time)
*** One successful title defence
* MMAjunkie.com
** 2022 May Fight of the Month vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 45 matches | 31 wins | 12 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 2 |
| By submission | 9 | 1 |
| By decision | 11 | 8 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| No contests | 2 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 31–12 (2) | Anthony Hernandez | TKO (elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira | 19 October 2024 | 5 | 2:22 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 31–11 (2) | Ihor Potieria | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 301 | 4 May 2024 | 1 | 0:54 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 30–11 (2) | Michał Oleksiejczuk | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 299 | 9 March 2024 | 1 | 1:01 | Miami, Florida, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 29–11 (2) | Andre Petroski | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza | 14 October 2023 | 1 | 1:06 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Middleweight. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 28–11 (2) | Santiago Ponzinibbio | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira | 21 May 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 27–11 (2) | André Fialho | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 270 | 22 January 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Win | 26–11 (2) | Niko Price | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 264 | 10 July 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 25–11 (2) | Khaos Williams | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal | 19 December 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 24–11 (2) | Zelim Imadaev | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai | 5 September 2020 | 3 | 4:39 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 23–11 (2) | Diego Sanchez | DQ (illegal knee) | UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 | 15 February 2020 | 3 | 3:09 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | |
| Loss | 23–10 (2) | Tristan Connelly | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje | 14 September 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Catchweight (172 lb) bout; Pereira missed weight. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 23–9 (2) | Danny Roberts | KO (flying knee and punch) | UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee | 18 May 2019 | 1 | 1:47 | Rochester, New York, United States | Return to Welterweight. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 22–9 (2) | Kim Sung-dae | TKO (knees) | Road FC 052 | 23 February 2019 | 2 | 1:02 | Seoul, South Korea | Openweight bout. |
| Win | 21–9 (2) | Choi Won-jun | KO (punch) | Road FC 051 | 15 December 2018 | 1 | 0:41 | Seoul, South Korea | Catchweight (190 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 20–9 (2) | Duško Todorović | TKO (punches) | Serbian Battle Championship 19 | 1 December 2018 | 1 | 4:32 | Novi Sad, Serbia | For the SBC Middleweight Championship. |
| NC | 20–8 (2) | Batmunkh Burenzorig | NC (overturned) | HEAT 43 | 17 September 2018 | 5 | 1:46 | Aichi, Japan | Originally a submission (rear-naked choke) win for Pereira; overturned due to him missing weight. |
| Win | 20–8 (1) | Yang Hea-jun | TKO (knee and punches) | Road FC 048 | 28 July 2018 | 3 | 1:48 | Wonju, South Korea | Middleweight bout. |
| Win | 19–8 (1) | Kim Ryul | TKO (punches) | HEAT 42 | 27 May 2018 | 1 | 0:51 | Aichi, Japan | Catchweight (176 lb) bout. |
| NC | 18–8 (1) | Carlos Perira | NC (cage malfunction) | Arena Fight 8 | 12 May 2018 | 1 | 2:52 | Redenção, Brazil | Catchweight (176 lb) bout. |
| Win | 18–8 | Laerte Costa | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Serbian Battle Championship 17 | 28 April 2018 | 1 | 4:02 | Odžaci, Serbia | Defended the SBC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 17–8 | Luka Strezoski | Decision (majority) | Serbian Battle Championship 15 | 8 December 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Novi Sad, Serbia | Won the vacant SBC Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 16–8 | Kurbanjiang Tuluosibake | Decision (unanimous) | Kunlun Fight MMA 15 | 3 October 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Alashan, Mongolia | |
| Win | 16–7 | Renato Gomes | Submission (triangle choke) | Taura MMA 1 | 16 September 2017 | 3 | 0:54 | Viamão, Brazil | |
| Win | 15–7 | Cristiano Estela Rios | Decision (unanimous) | Fusion FC 24 | 21 December 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Loss | 14–7 | Ismael de Jesus | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brasil 67 | 11 November 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | For the Shooto Brazil Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 14–6 | Stanley Barbosa | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Revelation FC 4 | 13 May 2016 | 1 | 4:56 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Loss | 13–6 | Abubakar Vagaev | Decision (unanimous) | Akhmat Fight Show 18 | 9 April 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Grozny, Russia | |
| Loss | 13–5 | Carlston Harris | Decision (unanimous) | XFC International 12 | 28 November 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 13–4 | Cairo Rocha | Decision (unanimous) | XFC International 9 | 14 March 2015 | 5 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 12–4 | Geraldo Coelho | Submission (guillotine choke) | XFC International 7 | 1 November 2014 | 1 | 2:40 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 11–4 | Caio Robson Silva | TKO (retirement) | Arena Fight 6 | 31 May 2014 | 1 | 5:00 | Redenção, Brazil | |
| Loss | 10–4 | Zozimar de Oliveria Silva Jr. | Submission (armbar) | Iron Man MMA 18 | 24 May 2014 | 2 | 5:00 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–3 | Alfredo Souza | Decision (unanimous) | Jungle Fight 65 | 2 February 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Madre de Deus, Brazil | |
| Win | 9–3 | Silmar Nunes | Submission (triangle choke) | Tucumã Fighting Show 5 | 21 December 2013 | 1 | 4:18 | Tucumã, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–3 | Jaime Cordoba | Decision (unanimous) | 300 Sparta 4 | 10 October 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 7–3 | Daziel Serafrim da Silva Jr. | Decision (unanimous) | The Green Fight: Paragominas | 28 September 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Paragominas, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–3 | Renato Puente Flores | Submission (armbar) | 300 Sparta 3 | 16 September 2013 | 1 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 5–3 | Reginaldo Ferreira Alves | TKO (punches) | Arena Sport Combat | 10 August 2013 | 1 | 4:12 | Xinguara, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–3 | Franciney dos Santos Bessa | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Marajó Fight 5 | 13 July 2013 | 1 | 1:52 | Soure, Brazil | |
| Loss | 3–3 | Rubenilton Perreira | Decision (unanimous) | MMA Dragon Fighters | 6 April 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Ourilândia do Norte, Brazil | |
| Loss | 3–2 | Rubenilton Perreira | Decision (unanimous) | Tucumã Fighting Show 3 | 30 March 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Tucumã, Brazil | |
| Loss | 3–1 | Bruno Leandro Soares | Decision (unanimous) | Colisão Top Fight | 12 January 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Tucumã, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Sivaldo Alves da Silva | Decision (unanimous) | Tucumã Fighting Show 2 | 15 June 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Tucumã, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Magno Silva | TKO (punches) | Tucumã Fighting Show 1 | 21 January 2012 | 2 | 5:00 | Tucumã, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Edson Dias | TKO (punches) | Dragon Fight Championship | 22 December 2011 | 1 | 3:20 | Ourilândia do Norte, Brazil | |