Michel Pereira, head-and-shoulders portrait
Demolidor

Michel Pereira

Middleweight
Striker
11 knockout wins
Record Record: 32-15-0
Wins
32
Losses
15
Draws
0
11KO/TKO
9Sub
12Dec
View full record ↓

Vitals

Height, reach, and career background.

Age32
Height1.85 m
Reach185 cm
NationalityBrazil
TeamXtreme Couture / Overcome Academy
Weight classMiddleweight
Active2011-present

Record

Tap any fight for the breakdown.

LossDEC
Opponent: Sharabutdin MagomedovunanimousR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres
27 Jun 2026

Pereira started brightly in Baku, but the co-main event cooled into a much lower-output striking match as the rounds wore on. UFC's official recap described it as a taekwondo-style fight that Magomedov rallied to win, leaving Pereira on the wrong side of three 29-28 cards.

Key moments

  • The bout opened with more energy than it maintained once both men settled into long-range kicking exchanges.
  • Magomedov adjusted better as the fight slowed and banked enough rounds to swing the momentum.
  • All three judges returned 29-28 scorecards against Pereira.
  • The decision loss closed out a difficult recent five-fight stretch despite Pereira's early success.
WinDEC
Opponent: Zachary ReesesplitR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez
21 Feb 2026

Pereira steadied himself in Houston with a split-decision win over Reese in a fight the official UFC recap called action-heavy and bloody. It was not a clean runaway, but Pereira did enough over the three rounds to get the nod on two cards and halt his skid for a night.

Key moments

  • The fight was framed by UFC as one of the more action-heavy bouts on the main card.
  • Both fighters came out of the matchup bloodied, which matched the messy rhythm of the exchanges.
  • Two judges scored it 29-28 for Pereira while the third saw it the other way.
  • The result gave Pereira a needed win without changing how volatile his form line remained.
LossKO
Opponent: Kyle Daukauspunches and elbowsR1 0:43
UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang
23 Aug 2025

The Shanghai appearance went bad almost immediately for Pereira. Daukaus swarmed him early and finished the fight in just 43 seconds, giving Pereira one of the quickest stoppage losses of his UFC run.

Key moments

  • The fight ended before the first round ever developed into a tactical matchup.
  • Daukaus finished with punches and elbows at 0:43 of round one.
  • The abrupt knockout loss wiped out any chance for Pereira to build off the Potieria and Oleksiejczuk momentum.
  • It became the clearest reminder that Pereira's aggression can leave him exposed early.
LossDEC
Opponent: Abusupiyan MagomedovunanimousR3 5:00
UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates
26 Apr 2025

Pereira never pulled the fight into the kind of scramble-heavy chaos that usually serves him best, and Magomedov swept the cards. The official scorecards came back 30-27 across the board, making this one of Pereira's clearer three-round UFC losses.

Key moments

  • All three judges scored the bout 30-27 against Pereira.
  • Magomedov's measured pace kept Pereira from turning the fight into broken rhythm exchanges.
  • The loss stalled Pereira's push after his 2023-24 middleweight surge.
  • It also set the tone for a stretch in which Pereira alternated isolated wins with hard setbacks.
LossTKO
Opponent: Anthony HernandezelbowsR5 2:22
UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira
19 Oct 2024

Pereira reached the fifth round in his first UFC main event, but Hernandez's pace and attritional pressure eventually broke through. The official result was a fifth-round TKO at 2:22, capping a fight that became increasingly difficult for Pereira to control over time.

Key moments

  • Pereira made it into the championship rounds in a five-round headliner, which mattered even in defeat.
  • Hernandez's pressure kept building until the late stoppage finally arrived.
  • The finish came at 2:22 of round five after sustained damage.
  • It marked the point where Pereira's middleweight run stopped looking like a straight climb.
WinSUB
Opponent: Ihor Potieriaguillotine chokeR1 0:54
UFC 301
4 May 2024

Pereira jumped on Potieria immediately in Rio and turned an early knockdown sequence into a fast guillotine finish. The fight was over in under a minute, extending his middleweight finishing run with another official UFC bonus-winning performance.

Key moments

  • A quick right-left burst put Potieria in trouble almost immediately.
  • Pereira snatched the neck as the fight transitioned and never let the opening go.
  • The official guillotine finish came at 0:54 of round one.
  • The win continued the streak that made him one of the division's quickest middleweight closers.
WinSUB
Opponent: Michal Oleksiejczukrear-naked chokeR1 1:01
UFC 299
9 Mar 2024

Pereira punished Oleksiejczuk quickly, broke him to the body, then jumped on the back and forced a first-round stoppage. It was another explosive middleweight finish and another Performance of the Night against a dangerous puncher.

Key moments

  • The body work visibly folded Oleksiejczuk before the grappling sequence took over.
  • Pereira advanced straight into back control once the fight hit the floor.
  • The rear-naked choke produced a technical submission at 1:01 of round one.
  • The finish kept his middleweight streak moving against one of the division's more volatile hitters.
WinTKO
Opponent: Andre PetroskipunchesR1 1:06
UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza
14 Oct 2023

Pereira's permanent move back to middleweight started perfectly, as he blasted Petroski out in just over a minute. He used feints and stance switches early, then dropped Petroski and finished the fight with fast follow-up punches.

Key moments

  • Petroski stepped in on short notice and never really got the fight settled.
  • Pereira's movement and feints kept Petroski guessing before the exchange broke open.
  • Once Petroski dropped, the stoppage came from punch-to-ground-and-pound follow-up.
  • The 1:06 finish earned Pereira another Performance of the Night bonus.
WinDEC
Opponent: Santiago PonzinibbiosplitR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira
21 May 2022

Pereira and Ponzinibbio turned their fight into the kind of ugly, high-output welterweight scrap that never stayed comfortable for either man. Pereira did the cleaner work early and survived the harder late stretches to take the split decision in a Fight of the Night performance.

Key moments

  • Ponzinibbio was warned sharply for an early eye poke.
  • Pereira landed repeated front kicks, right hands, and a rear-waistlock sequence in the opening round.
  • The third round swung wildly enough to split observers and one of the official cards.
  • The judges returned 28-29, 30-27, and 29-28 for Pereira.
WinDEC
Opponent: Andre FialhounanimousR3 5:00
UFC 270
22 Jan 2022

Fialho came forward hard, but Pereira stayed composed and gradually took control with front kicks, counters, and cleaner work over the full fifteen minutes. All three judges saw it 29-28 for Pereira in a competitive but disciplined performance.

Key moments

  • Fialho pressed early and forced Pereira to fight off the back foot at times.
  • Pereira's front kicks and counters gradually slowed the newcomer down.
  • The fight stayed largely standing and became a cleaner technical read than many of Pereira's earlier UFC showings.
  • Every official card came back 29-28 for Pereira.
WinDEC
Opponent: Niko PriceunanimousR3 5:00
UFC 264
10 Jul 2021

Pereira won a strange but tactical fight with Price by landing the cleaner shots, mixing kicks with occasional takedowns, and staying a step ahead in the better exchanges. It was scrappy rather than spectacular, but all three judges still gave Pereira the same 29-28 verdict.

Key moments

  • Pereira's jab knocked Price back early and set the tone for the cleaner striking exchanges.
  • An eye-poke break interrupted the opening round.
  • Price's pressure made the fight ugly in spots, but Pereira mixed in clinch control and takedowns to steady it.
  • The official cards were 29-28 across the board.
WinDEC
Opponent: Khaos WilliamsunanimousR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal
19 Dec 2020

Pereira fought far more responsibly than in his early UFC outings and beat Williams with a measured, tactical game. He had to survive heavy calf kicks and power counters, but his cleaner combinations and late takedowns were enough for a unanimous decision.

Key moments

  • Williams won much of the first round with calf kicks and pressure.
  • Pereira stayed outside and picked his spots rather than chasing constant chaos.
  • Late wrestling helped him bank key stretches once the fight tightened up.
  • All three judges scored it 29-28 for Pereira.
WinSUB
Opponent: Zelim Imadaevrear-naked chokeR3 4:39
UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai
5 Sep 2020

Pereira largely outclassed Imadaev over three rounds, fighting much more patiently than his early UFC reputation suggested. After controlling the action and repeatedly frustrating Imadaev, he took the back late and put him out with a rear-naked choke.

Key moments

  • There was no glove touch after the bad-blood weigh-in slap.
  • Pereira came out unusually measured behind jabs and body kicks instead of constant wild bursts.
  • He stacked up control time and cleaner offense across the fight before going to the finish.
  • The technical submission came at 4:39 of round three.
LossDQ
Opponent: Diego Sanchezillegal kneeR3 3:09
UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Blachowicz 2
15 Feb 2020

Pereira was winning large stretches of a bizarre co-main event before he threw a blatant illegal knee at a grounded Sanchez in the third round. The foul flipped a fight he was controlling into a disqualification loss.

Key moments

  • Both men opened with goofy theatrics, but Pereira did the cleaner damage for much of the fight.
  • Sanchez struggled to match Pereira's athleticism over the earlier rounds.
  • The ending came when Pereira kneed a clearly grounded Sanchez.
  • The official result was a disqualification at 3:09 of round three.
LossDEC
Opponent: Tristan ConnellyunanimousR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje
14 Sep 2019

Pereira blew a huge amount of energy early against a late-notice replacement who moved up a division, and Connelly took over once the pace settled. Connelly's pressure, wrestling, and top control turned the upset into a clear decision.

Key moments

  • Pereira's early acrobatics and offense won him the first round on many media scorecards.
  • Connelly's takedowns and clinch work changed the fight once Pereira began to fade.
  • Pereira was visibly exhausted and even wandered toward the wrong corner between rounds.
  • The official scores were 29-28, 29-27, and 29-27 for Connelly.
WinKO
Opponent: Danny Robertsflying knee and punchR1 1:47
UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee
18 May 2019

Pereira announced himself in his UFC debut with exactly the kind of chaos everyone expected. After a few flashy setup attacks, he detonated a flying knee and a straight right that knocked Roberts cold in the first round.

Key moments

  • A somersault kick and superman punch showed up almost immediately.
  • An overhand right had already backed Roberts up before the finish sequence landed.
  • The flying knee was the decisive blow that broke the fight open.
  • The follow-up straight right ended it at 1:47 of round one.
WinTKO
Opponent: Kim Sung-daepunches and kneesR2 1:02
Road FC 052
23 Feb 2019
WinKO
Opponent: Choi Won-junpunchR1 0:41
Road FC 051
15 Dec 2018
LossTKO
Opponent: Dusko TodorovicpunchesR1 4:32
Serbian Battle Championship 19
1 Dec 2018

Pereira's Balkan run stalled when Todorovic stopped him late in the first round at SBC 19. Reliable record sources agree on the result, method, round, and time even if detailed written play-by-play is sparse.

Key moments

  • The stoppage came at 4:32 of the opening round.
  • The official method is a TKO by punches.
  • It happened during the Serbian title-run period of Pereira's regional career.
  • The defeat interrupted his momentum just before the back-to-back Road FC appearances.
NCNC
Opponent: Batmunkh Burenzorigmissed weightR5 1:46
HEAT 43
17 Sep 2018
WinTKO
Opponent: Yang Hea-junknee and punchesR3 1:48
Road FC 048
28 Jul 2018
WinTKO
Opponent: Kim RyulpunchesR1 0:51
HEAT 42
27 May 2018
NCNC
Opponent: Carlos Periracage malfunctionR1 2:52
Arena Fight 8
12 May 2018
WinSUB
Opponent: Laerte Costarear-naked chokeR1 4:02
Serbian Battle Championship 17
28 Apr 2018

Pereira closed the show late in the first round with a rear-naked choke in the SBC 17 main event. It was a clean first-round finish and part of the stretch that made him an SBC welterweight champion-level presence on the regional scene.

Key moments

  • The fight carried main-event billing on the SBC 17 card.
  • The rear-naked choke finish came at 4:02 of the opening round.
  • It showed how often Pereira alternated wild striking with opportunistic submission attacks.
  • The result kept his Serbian run moving with another quick official finish.
WinDEC
Opponent: Luka StrezoskimajorityR3 5:00
Serbian Battle Championship 15
8 Dec 2017

Pereira's fight with Strezoski is notable because the original in-cage announcement was a draw, then the result was overturned to a majority-decision win for Pereira after appeal. The bout itself went the full three rounds and remains one of the stranger administrative notes in his record.

Key moments

  • The fight lasted the full three-round distance.
  • The official record now shows a majority decision for Pereira after the appeal process.
  • Tapology preserves the draw-to-win reversal as part of the bout history.
  • It came in the main event of SBC 15.
LossDEC
Opponent: Kurbanjiang TuluosibakeunanimousR3 5:00
Kunlun Fight MMA 15
3 Oct 2017
WinSUB
Opponent: Renato Gomestriangle chokeR3 0:54
Taura MMA 1
16 Sep 2017
WinDEC
Opponent: Cristiano Estela RiosunanimousR3 5:00
Fusion FC 24
21 Dec 2016

Pereira went the full fifteen minutes in a welterweight main event at Fusion FC 24 and took a unanimous decision in Lima. It was a steady bounce-back win after the Ismael de Jesus title loss and pushed him forward again on the regional circuit.

Key moments

  • The fight held main-event billing at Fusion FC 24.
  • Pereira won a clear unanimous decision after the full three-round distance.
  • The bout took place in Lima, Peru.
  • The clean scorecards moved him back into momentum after the Shooto Brasil setback.
LossDEC
Opponent: Ismael de JesusunanimousR3 5:00
Shooto Brasil 67
11 Nov 2016

Pereira challenged for the Shooto Brasil welterweight championship and lost a unanimous decision over three rounds. The result came in a Rio de Janeiro main event and left him just short of adding another regional belt to his résumé.

Key moments

  • This was a title fight for the Shooto Brasil welterweight championship.
  • Pereira fought the full fifteen minutes before dropping the decision.
  • The bout carried main-event stakes rather than a lower-card regional placement.
  • The loss interrupted what had been a strong national-promotion push.
WinSUB
Opponent: Stanley Barbosaarm-triangle chokeR1 4:56
Revelation FC 4
13 May 2016

Pereira scored a late first-round arm-triangle choke over Stanley Barbosa in Belém, finishing the fight with only seconds left in the round. It was a quick rebound win on home soil and one of the cleaner regional submissions on this part of his record.

Key moments

  • The arm-triangle choke was secured at 4:56 of round one.
  • The finish came with only four seconds left in the opening frame.
  • The event took place in Belém on home-state territory for Pereira.
  • It served as an immediate rebound after the Akhmat grand prix setback.
LossDEC
Opponent: Abubakar VagaevunanimousR3 5:00
Akhmat Fight Show 18
9 Apr 2016

Pereira went three rounds with Vagaev in Grozny and lost a unanimous decision in the Akhmat 2016 welterweight grand prix. It was a tournament setback rather than a finish loss, and it stopped his momentum after the Stanley Barbosa stretch had not yet begun.

Key moments

  • The bout was part of the Akhmat 2016 welterweight grand prix bracket.
  • Pereira completed the full three-round distance before dropping the decision.
  • The tournament setting raised the stakes beyond a normal regional non-title fight.
  • The loss came in Russia during one of the more travel-heavy phases of his career.
LossDEC
Opponent: Carlston HarrisunanimousR3 5:00
XFC International 12
28 Nov 2015

Harris beat Pereira by unanimous decision in the XFC welterweight tournament final, sending Pereira to a runner-up finish after the bracket run that started with the Geraldo Coelho and Cairo Rocha wins. It was another full-distance fight, but this time the tournament stakes went the other way.

Key moments

  • This was the XFC welterweight tournament final.
  • Pereira went a full three rounds before dropping the unanimous decision.
  • The result denied him the tournament crown after two earlier bracket wins.
  • It closed out one of the more important regional title-path runs of his pre-UFC career.
WinDEC
Opponent: Cairo RochaunanimousR5 5:00
XFC International 9
14 Mar 2015

Pereira beat Cairo Rocha in the XFC welterweight tournament semifinal and did it without abandoning the flash that defined his style. Wikipedia's career summary specifically calls out wheel kicks and flying knees, making this a flashy but controlled decision win that moved him into the final.

Key moments

  • The fight was part of the XFC welterweight tournament semifinal round.
  • Pereira went the full three-round distance and won on the cards.
  • Wheel kicks and flying knees were singled out in the career summary for this bout.
  • The win moved him into the tournament final against Carlston Harris.
WinSUB
Opponent: Geraldo Coelhoguillotine chokeR1 2:40
XFC International 7
1 Nov 2014

Pereira answered Geraldo Coelho's pressure by tying him up, getting the fight down, and finishing a guillotine choke at 2:40 of the opening round. That win served as his XFC welterweight tournament quarterfinal and the first step of the bracket run.

Key moments

  • The fight was an XFC welterweight tournament quarterfinal.
  • Pereira turned the exchange into a first-round guillotine finish.
  • The official stoppage time was 2:40 of round one.
  • It opened the bracket run that later carried him to the final.
WinTKO
Opponent: Caio Robson SilvaretirementR1 5:00
Arena Fight 6
31 May 2014

Pereira beat Caio Robson Silva by retirement at the end of the first round in Redenção. Wikipedia's career summary treats this as the bridge win that earned him the XFC opportunity, which makes it more important than the thin surviving action detail suggests.

Key moments

  • The official stoppage was logged as a retirement at 5:00 of round one.
  • The fight took place on a Pará regional card in Redenção.
  • It came just after the Zozimar defeat and before the XFC signing.
  • The result helped set up his move into a bigger national promotion.
LossSUB
Opponent: Zozimar de Oliveria Silva Jr.armbarR2 5:00
Iron Man MMA 18
24 May 2014
WinDEC
Opponent: Alfredo SouzaunanimousR3 5:00
Jungle Fight 65
2 Feb 2014

Pereira beat Alfredo Souza, better known as Junior Orgulho, by unanimous decision in his only Jungle Fight appearance. The win came in the co-main event and helped push him toward the bigger national promotions that followed.

Key moments

  • This was Pereira's lone appearance under the Jungle Fight banner.
  • The bout held co-main-event placement on the card.
  • Pereira won a full three-round unanimous decision.
  • The result added another recognized veteran name to his early regional climb.
WinSUB
Opponent: Silmar Nunestriangle chokeR1 4:18
Tucuma Fighting Show 5
21 Dec 2013

Pereira submitted veteran Silmar Nunes with a triangle choke late in the first round at Tucumã Fighting Show 5. Wikipedia specifically flags Nunes as one of the veteran names Pereira beat during his early regional rise.

Key moments

  • The triangle choke finish came at 4:18 of round one.
  • It happened on a hometown Tucumã card in the Amazon region.
  • Nunes was one of the more experienced names on Pereira's early record.
  • The win moved Pereira to 9-3.
WinDEC
Opponent: Jaime CordobaunanimousR3 5:00
300 Sparta 4
10 Oct 2013

Pereira outpointed Jaime Cordoba over three rounds at 300 Sparta 4 in Lima. The record table also notes it as his return to welterweight, which is the main contextual detail worth carrying here.

Key moments

  • This was recorded as Pereira's return to welterweight.
  • He won a full three-round unanimous decision in Lima, Peru.
  • It was one of the last wins before the Jungle Fight appearance.
  • The fight helped stabilize his early record after the turbulent 2013 stretch.
WinDEC
Opponent: Daziel Serafrim da Silva Jr.unanimousR3 5:00
The Green Fight: Paragominas
28 Sep 2013
WinSUB
Opponent: Renato Puente FloresarmbarR1 5:00
300 Sparta 3
16 Sep 2013

Pereira finished Renato Puente Flores by armbar in the opening round at 300 Sparta 3. It was one of several early Peru appearances on his record and one of the cleaner submission wins in that stretch.

Key moments

  • The fight ended with a first-round armbar.
  • It took place in Lima, Peru, during Pereira's run of appearances there.
  • The bout landed on the main card and kept his momentum moving after the Green Fight result.
  • It showed that the early version of Pereira's game already had a live submission layer to complement the striking.
WinTKO
Opponent: Reginaldo Ferreira AlvespunchesR1 4:12
Arena Sport Combat 1
10 Aug 2013

Pereira stopped Reginaldo Ferreira Alves by punches late in the first round in the Arena Sport Combat main event. It was an early-career knockout win that fit the pattern of him finishing regional opponents before reaching the bigger national promotions.

Key moments

  • The stoppage came at 4:12 of the opening round.
  • The fight held main-event billing on the card.
  • It was another first-round TKO in his early Amazon-region run.
  • The win came in Xinguara and helped re-establish momentum during 2013.
WinTKO
Opponent: Franciney dos Santos Bessadoctor stoppageR1 1:52
Marajo Fight 5
13 Jul 2013

Pereira beat Franciney dos Santos Bessa by doctor stoppage in under two minutes at Marajó Fight 5. It is one of the more unusual endings in his early record, with the finish coming from cageside medical intervention rather than a standard referee wave-off.

Key moments

  • The stoppage came at 1:52 of the first round.
  • Officially the result is a doctor stoppage rather than a standard strikes TKO.
  • The bout held regional main-event importance on the card.
  • It helped keep Pereira's early-career momentum moving after the spring setbacks.
LossDEC
Opponent: Rubenilton PerreiraunanimousR3 5:00
MMA Dragon Fighters 1
6 Apr 2013
LossDEC
Opponent: Rubenilton PerreiraunanimousR3 5:00
Tucuma Fighting Show 3
30 Mar 2013
LossDEC
Opponent: Bruno Leandro SoaresunanimousR3 5:00
Colisao Top Fight
12 Jan 2013
WinDEC
Opponent: Sivaldo Alves da SilvaunanimousR3 5:00
Tucuma Fighting Show 2
15 Jun 2012

Pereira beat Sivaldo Alves da Silva by unanimous decision to move to 3-0 as a pro. It was a simple three-round regional win, but it mattered as one of the last fights before the rough patch that came the following year.

Key moments

  • The fight went a full three-round distance.
  • Pereira got the unanimous decision to improve to 3-0.
  • It took place on a Tucumã regional card in his home area.
  • The win helped establish the base record before the first real adversity of his career.
WinTKO
Opponent: Magno SilvapunchesR2 5:00
Tucuma Fighting Show 1
21 Jan 2012

Pereira stopped Magno Silva in round two in what the record table marks as his lightweight debut. The win came early in his career and is notable more for the divisional context than for any surviving blow-by-blow detail.

Key moments

  • This was recorded as Pereira's lightweight debut.
  • The official result is a round-two TKO by punches.
  • It happened on a hometown Tucumã card very early in his career.
  • The win pushed him to 2-0 before the later welterweight and middleweight experiments.
WinTKO
Opponent: Edson DiaspunchesR1 3:20
Dragon Fight Championship 6
22 Dec 2011

Pereira won his pro debut by first-round TKO over Edson Dias at Dragon Fight Championship 6. The record table also marks it as his welterweight debut, which is the cleanest contextual detail to preserve here.

Key moments

  • This was Pereira's professional debut.
  • It was also recorded as his welterweight debut.
  • The first-round TKO came at 3:20 of the opening frame.
  • The fight took place in Ourilândia do Norte.

The Read

Style, strengths, and where this fighter stands.

Michel Pereira remains one of the division's most unusual athletes, because the chaos that first made him a UFC curiosity now sits on top of a more structured middleweight game. UFC.com still lists him as a striker, and the numbers reflect a fighter who can score in bursts while mixing in wrestling and front-headlock attacks: 4.28 significant strikes landed per minute, 1.11 takedowns per 15 minutes, and 0.60 submissions per 15 minutes.

The middleweight return gave him a real run of momentum through wins over Andre Petroski, Michal Oleksiejczuk, and Ihor Potieria, but the last two seasons have also shown the volatility that comes with his style. He beat Zachary Reese in Houston, yet losses to Anthony Hernandez, Abusupiyan Magomedov, Kyle Daukaus, and Sharabutdin Magomedov kept him from turning that stretch into a sustained climb.