vs
-275 +250
UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane · Jan 22, 2022 · Welterweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane Next Fight
Age 32
Height 6' 1"
Reach 73.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 32
Height 6' 0"
Reach 74"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Michel Pereira
4.46 SLpM
51.0% Str. Acc.
4.4 SApM
51.0% Str. Def.
1.21 TD Avg
56.0% TD Acc.
75.0% TD Def.
0.7 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - André Fialho
3.3 SLpM
41.0% Str. Acc.
6.26 SApM
45.0% Str. Def.
0.25 TD Avg
100.0% TD Acc.
66.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Michel Pereira
Moneyline
BetWay -275
KO/TKO
FanDuel +210
Submission
FanDuel +600
Decision
BetMGM +220
André Fialho
Moneyline
FanDuel +250
KO/TKO
BetRivers +400
Submission
FanDuel +2300
Decision
BetMGM +850
Michel Pereira - Fight History
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Michel Pereira
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Magomedov (-350); Pereira (+275)

Round 1
Middleweight human highlight reels “Shara Bullet” and “Demolidor” feature in the co-main event. Both men are in orthodox stance. Herb Dean is the referee. After a few tentative early exchanges, Pereira levels Magomedov with a right hand. He follows the Dagestani down, raining down punches as Magomedov defends himself. Pereira shucks the legs out of the way to clear the path for heavier ground shots, but “Shara Bullet” backs him off with upkicks. Pereira adjusts and dives back down, ending up in Magomedov’s wide-open goard. Referee Dean warns Magomedov for pulling Pereira hair. A few seconds later, Dean stops the action, stands Pereira up, warns Magomedov again for pulling hair, then restarts them in guard without taking a point. What are we even doing here? If that isn't a point deduction, what are rules even for? There is no accidental pulling of hair. Pereira is still in guard, dropping short but stinging hammerfists, and has to dodge another upkick. Pereira takes Magomedov’s back and is working to secure the position when Magomedov spins into his guard and takes top position. The crowd roars. “Shara Bullet” stands up out of Pereira’s guard. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Pereira

Round 2
Referee Dean gives Magomedov another warning for the repeated hair pulls before the second round starts, with the caveat “No more fouls, OK?” Magomedov flicks out a fast, hard kick to the body of Pereira. Pereira is on his toes, bouncing around the perimeter, and Magomedov tags him with a pair of lightning-fast kicks: one to the leg, one to the body. Pereira resets and comes forward southpaw. Magomedov is throwing sparse offense, but Pereira is throwing back even less. Pereira measures “Shara Bullet” for another massive right, but it comes up just short. Magomedov is walking Pereira around the cage, touching him with sporadic body kicks, and when Pereira explodes into the pocket, he meets him with a nicely timed knee. Under a minute and a half to go, and the round is still defined by a lot of circling and not a lot of punching. Pereira plants and flurries, and a few of the shots glance off the guard of Magomedov. The horn sounds just as Pereira throws a rolling thunder kick.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 3
Pereira is again bouncing on the balls of his feet to open Round 3, but again seems gunshy, failing to respond even as “Shara Bullet” connects with three different kicks. Pereira walks straight into a side kick that hits him in the midsection. Pereira is offering nothing but lateral movement and feints in return. Magomedov with another front kick to the guts. Two minutes down and Pereira shoots a long double-leg. Magomedov sprawls and turns him over, and when they return to their feet, Magomedov promptly pokes him in the right eye. Dean halts the action, and we will see how much substance there was to his “no more fouls” warning ahead of Round 2. They go back to work and of course there is no point deduction. Pereira seems slightly energized, landing a couple of low kicks. Pereira shoves his way into the pocket and throws a pair of big punches but doesn’t connect cleanly, and Magomedov separates, then meets Pereira with kicks at range. Under 90 seconds to go and Pereira shoots for a takedown. Magomedov defends well and they stand up against the cage. Pereira throws uppercuts inside. They are in close quarters as the clock winds down, but Magomedov drills Pereira with a knee that hurts him badly. He gives chase, trying to capitalize, but the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (29-28 Magomedov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (29-28 Magomedov)
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (29-28 Magomedov)

The Official Result
Sharabutdin Magomedov def. Michel Pereira via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

AJ picks Magomedov by knockout, believing Pereira has slowed down and is past his prime. He thinks Magomedov's counter-striking and kicks will be too much, and that Pereira will make mistakes. AJ expects a highlight-reel finish, possibly from a body kick or spinning attack.

Knockout -130, Decision +280
"I think Shara Bullet is going to be able to deal with a little bit of chaos from Michelle, but he's so sloppy. I think SH can get some nice counters going."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

AJ DeVito is confident that Sharabutdin Magomedov (Shara Bullet) will defeat Michel Pereira, who he believes is past his prime and has looked bad recently. He expects a highlight-reel KO from Shara Bullet, citing Pereira's decline since the Fluffy Hernandez fight. He also mentions a prop for Shara Bullet to win over 1.5 rounds at -135 and a KO over 1.5 at +450.

Moneyline at -365; Shara Bullet to win over 1.5 rounds at -135; Shara KO over 1.5 at +450.
"I think Char Bullet should go out and look really good here against past his expiration date, Michelle Pereira. Pereira's falling off, guys."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

AJ picks Magomedov by knockout, believing Pereira is washed and defensively sloppy. Magomedov's slick counter-striking and speed should find the kill shot. Pereira has looked slow and hittable recently, and Magomedov's highlight-reel style is tailor-made for this matchup.

Over 1.5 rounds -230. Magomedov -350 favorite.
"I gotta go Shara Bullet here. I think Michelle Pereira, though he's only 32 or at least on paper, I don't know how old he really is. I don't like how he's been looking at all."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

AJ is very confident Shara Bullet wins by knockout, calling it a setup fight. He thinks Pereira looks washed and slow, while Shara is a technical kickboxer with speed and timing. He expects a highlight-reel knockout, possibly in round 2 or 3.

Shara by KO +140; Shara wins over 1.5 KO +450; Shara under 2.5 by KO +175; Shara round 2 KO +650; Shara round 3 KO +1000.
"I think Shara Bullet cooks Pereira. This is his chance for a highlight."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Angelo picks Shara Bullet due to his movement and speed, noting that Michel Pereira is not the same fighter he used to be. He criticizes Shara for being a point fighter rather than a killer, but believes he will win. He advises against betting on Shara by KO and suggests betting over 1.5 rounds if that line is available.

over 1.5 rounds if line available
"I think Shara wins here because of the movement, because of the speed. But I think people betting on him by KO are going to be pissed as [ __ ]"
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Angelo has grown increasingly confident in Shara Bullet as the week progressed, citing his superior footwork, overall striking, decent takedown defense, and a granite chin. He expects Shara to manage range and stay safe against the wild and reckless Michel Pereira, and believes the fight will go over 1.5 rounds because Shara is not that dangerous but is insanely tough.

over 1.5 rounds (in parlay)
"Shara has the most ridiculous granite chin you've seen. So, as the week goes on, I've gotten more and more confident in him."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Big Brady picks Sharabutdin Magomedov to win by decision. He calls Pereira washed, noting his recent poor performances, lack of cardio, and questionable urgency. Magomedov is a one-dimensional striker but should outpoint Pereira. Brady has no interest in betting this fight due to the high price on Magomedov.

win by decision
"I'm going Shaggamea by decision, but this is probably the fight I have least interest in from a betting perspective."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Cody picks Magomedov but is very hesitant, calling the fight trappy. He highlights Magomedov's defensive wrestling issues and one eye, and thinks Pereira has a path via wrestling. He prefers to live bet or take the over, expecting a close fight.

Over 1.5 rounds at -200
"Feels trappy. Feels trappy in that. Yeah, listen. I fell for both traps last week."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Daniel Levi confidently picks Sharabutdin Magomedov, believing Michel Pereira is on a massive decline and has lost his soul since the Anthony Hernandez fight. He notes Pereira's recent performances were poor, including a robbery win over Zach Reese, and that Magomedov is a work in progress but has good wins and flashy striking. He expects Magomedov to win, possibly by knockout or decision, as Pereira is a striker on his way out.

"I think that Shara Bullet Magomedov is going to come out here. I'm not sure if it's going to be a knockout or if it's going to be a decision, but I think it's going to be a win for …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Lucrative James picks Shara Magomedov because he believes Michel Pereira is on a terrible run, with poor durability and cardio, and lacks technical striking. He notes that Shara is durable, a good striker with distance management, and has been working on his wrestling. He thinks Pereira's only path is an early knockout, but Shara has shown durability against heavy hitters. He also mentions that Pereira's wrestling might not be as effective as Shara has improved his grappling. He predicts a decision win for Shara, with a possible late stoppage if Pereira gasses.

Maybe Shara Magomedov in round three could be a little poke. We might get a plus 2,000, we might get a plus 1500, something like that.
"I am picking Shahara Magamemedov in this fight. I'll pick him via decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Magomedov is more reliable to implement his Muay Thai style with kicks, knees, and elbows. Pereira has been inconsistent and gun-shy recently. Magomedov should outstrike him and win on the scorecards, but the line is too high to play.

Magomedov by decision
"I'm going to go Magameov. I think Momerov outstrikes Peda here, wins this fight on the scorecards, but I don't like playing a guy like Maggomedov at minus 320."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

The host expects a fun striking battle with back-and-forth flashy techniques, but not enough for a knockout. He thinks the fight will go to the scorecards and the Russian (Shara Magomedov) will get his hand raised.

Magomedov wins by decision
"I'm expecting this fight to hit the scorecards and I think it's going to be the Russian who ends up getting his hand raised."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Paul picks Magomedov but is hesitant, believing the price is too high. He notes Magomedov's poor takedown defense and one eye, and thinks Pereira could mix in takedowns. However, he expects Magomedov to squeak out a close decision, possibly with hometown judging. He prefers the over 1.5 rounds.

Over 1.5 rounds at -200
"I think he wins more often than not, just not at a clip to suggest 365."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

The Guru picks Shara via decision, citing his superior kicks, body work, and cardio. He believes Pereira may be regressing and less willing to take risks. He expects Shara to outpoint Pereira over three rounds.

"I'm going to pick Shara by by decision in this fight."
WIN vs Zachary Reese
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez · Feb 21, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Zachary Reese 0 74 of 148 50% 81 of 160 1 of 3 33% 1 0 0:47
Michel Pereira 0 63 of 132 47% 70 of 139 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:48
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Zachary Reese 0 23 of 51 45% 26 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michel Pereira 0 18 of 40 45% 25 of 47 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:42
2 Zachary Reese 0 24 of 44 54% 28 of 49 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:44
Michel Pereira 0 22 of 42 52% 22 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
3 Zachary Reese 0 27 of 53 50% 27 of 55 0 of 2 0% 1 0 0:03
Michel Pereira 0 23 of 50 46% 23 of 50 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Zachary Reese 74 of 148 50% 24 of 90 30 of 38 20 of 20 72 of 142 2 of 6 0 of 0
Michel Pereira 63 of 132 47% 29 of 75 31 of 53 3 of 4 53 of 119 9 of 11 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Zachary Reese 23 of 51 45% 4 of 29 8 of 11 11 of 11 23 of 50 0 of 1 0 of 0
Michel Pereira 18 of 40 45% 8 of 21 10 of 19 0 of 0 15 of 35 2 of 4 1 of 1
2 Zachary Reese 24 of 44 54% 9 of 25 11 of 15 4 of 4 23 of 41 1 of 3 0 of 0
Michel Pereira 22 of 42 52% 12 of 25 9 of 16 1 of 1 16 of 35 6 of 6 0 of 1
3 Zachary Reese 27 of 53 50% 11 of 36 11 of 12 5 of 5 26 of 51 1 of 2 0 of 0
Michel Pereira 23 of 50 46% 9 of 29 12 of 18 2 of 3 22 of 49 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Michel Pereira vs. Zachary Reese

Round 1
Herb Dean is the referee. Pereira lands a hard body kick to begin the main card. Pereira counters a kick with a glancing overhand, but Reese seems to be OK. Pereira jabs the body. Pereira counters another kick with a right hand and Reese goes down. Pereira welcomes Reese back to his feet. Reese lands a body kick. Pereira with a front kick down the middle. Pereira jabs the body. Reese moves in and lands a knee to the body. Reese attempts an inside leg kick, but Herb Dean calls time because it apparently landed low. The crowd isn’t buying it but Pereira takes about a minute. Pereira tries for that same overhand counter following a Reese kick but it’s not as successful as it was earlier. Reese moves in and lands a combination to the body. Reese kicks the body, and Pereira grimaces, as it landed below the belt again. A replay review determines that it was indeed a foul, despite the protests of the fans. Reese lands a kick and they engage in the clinch, with both men swinging wildly during a brief exchange. An errant spinning attack by Reese results in a takedown for Pereira. Reese stands, but Pereira grabs the neck and lands a couple knees on the break. Pereira stabs the body with a front kick. Reese leaps in wildly, but Pereira can’t capitalize. Reese makes his foe stumble with a low kick before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pereira

Round 2
Reese targets the body with kicks. They clinch, and Pereira lands a pair of hard knees to the gut. They clinch and Pereira lands another knee before pushing Reese to the wire. They separate in short order. Pereira lands a right followed by a knee. Reese had his fingers extended during an exchange, and he poked Pereira in the eye. This results in the third timeout of the fight due to a foul by Reese. No point is taken and the action resumes. Reese quickly lands a takedown in the center of the cage. Reese peppers the Brazilian with left hands from half guard. Reese maintains a body lock as Pereira stands. Reese is busted open. Reese lands a body kick. A counter left freezes Pereira where he stands. Pereira throws a right to the body. Reese moves in and Pereira land a leaping knee. They crash forward, with both men landing in an exchange. Reese is holding his hands low as he lands a right. Pereira jabs the body while avoiding a high kick. Another body kick for Reese. Reese lands a two-punch combination. Reese throws a front kick to the body and Pereira urges him on. Reese just misses with a flying knee. Pereira responds with a rolling somersault kick at the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese

Round 3
Reese opens with a body kick. Pereira throws a push kick to the body. Reese lands a leg kick and is warned to keep his hands closed. Reese attacks the body with another kick. They collide in the clinch and separate. Reese closes distance and lands a knee. Pereira connects with a straight right. A lead leg head kick lands for Reese, as these two keep trading one-off attacks. Reese with a two-punch solid combination. Pereira sticks a jab. Reese kicks the body. Pereira lands a counter right. Reese lands a right uppercut to the body followed by a left hand over the top. Pereira closes the distance and Reese nearly had a choke locked. Periera was a ble to scramble up. That sets the stage for another exchange. Both men land heavy shots initially, but they’re mostly swinging and missing in the waning seconds, save for a Pereira knee down the middle.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)

The Official Result
Michel Pereira def. Zachary Reese via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) R3 5:00
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Angelo picks Michel Pereira despite recent poor form, citing his superior athleticism, speed, wrestling, and training partners. He acknowledges Pereira's mental state is a question mark after a public divorce, but believes the version from 2024 would dominate. He goes with his brain over his gut.

"Michel Pereira is the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Feb 8, 2026 (13 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

Big Brady picks Zachary Reese to defeat Michel Pereira, but with clear disgust and hesitation. He believes Pereira is washed, citing his terrible performances against Abus Magomedov and a 40-second knockout loss to Kyle Daukaus. He calls the fight 'disgusting' and hopes it gets canceled. He notes Reese is the underdog but feels he has more faith in Reese at this point. He predicts a first-round knockout, reasoning that if Daukaus could KO Pereira, Reese can too.

Zachary Reese by first-round knockout
"Give me Zac Reese here. You know, it's dirty. It's greasy. ... I'll take Zac Reese to knock out Michel Pereira in the first round."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Cody thinks Pereira's desperation and flashy style will lead to an early finish. He notes Reese's durability issues and poor cardio. He expects Pereira to win by KO or submission in the first round.

Pereira round one +316
"Pereira is the pick for me."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Feb 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Connor picks Pereira despite acknowledging he looks shot. He notes that Pereira has better technique and experience, and that Reese has never beaten a good fighter. He points out that Pereira's creativity and speed could still be enough against a limited opponent like Reese, but admits it's a terrible fight and Pereira could lose if he's truly broken.

Reese opened +130, now +130; Pereira opened -150, now -150
"I'm gonna pick perrera. I can't. But that's what this fight is. Just terrible."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Lean picked Feb 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The host heavily leans towards Pereira, citing his superior striking, cardio, and ground game compared to Reese. However, he cannot bet Pereira at -155 because of the red flag from Pereira's passive performance against Abus Magomedov, which may indicate decline. He notes that if Pereira shows up and fights to his potential, he wins easily, but the inconsistency makes him unbettable.

Pereira's inconsistency; potential decline after Abus Magomedov fight
"I heavily lean towards Pereira. He's a very tempting bat. I wouldn't touch Reese here because in my opinion there's no advantage that he has over Pereira."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Feb 14, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

James picks Michel Pereira to win by first-round finish, but with hesitation due to Pereira's recent poor performances and questionable chin. He notes that Pereira has far better tools and competition wins, but if he doesn't get an early finish, Reese could take over. James prefers the under 1.5 rounds as a betting angle.

under 1.5 rounds
"I'm going to predict Michelle Pereira to win this fight in round one, but it's a very volatile fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 17, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Pereira is on a three-fight losing streak but has faced tough competition and should be motivated to save his roster spot. He is the better fighter on paper with more experience. Reese is dangerous but has durability questions. If Pereira comes back at 80% of his former self, he should find a finish. The under 1.5 rounds is also a good play as both are finishers.

under 1.5 rounds at plus money
"So, I'm going to go Pereira. I'm going to go Pereira by knockout."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Paul agrees, citing Pereira's ability to finish fights early and Reese's tendency to get knocked out. He thinks Pereira's wrestling is underrated and that he can win on the ground if needed. He expects a first-round finish.

Pereira inside distance +120
"I want the more dangerous guy. I want the guy that's more able to capitalize."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Feb 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The MMA Guru hesitantly picks Michel Pereira, trusting his ability despite a recent loss to Hernandez. He notes Pereira's cardio issues but thinks he can find Reese's chin. He is unsure due to Pereira's inconsistency but believes Reese's fundamental ability is lacking.

TKO
"I'm going to go with Michael Pahea getting this one done by TKO over Zachary Reese."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Feb 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

Zane picks Reese as a counter to Connor, arguing that Pereira's confidence is shattered after the Hernandez loss and he has looked terrible in his last two fights. He notes that Reese is dangerous early and that Pereira's recent performances suggest he no longer knows how to fight. He admits it's a terrible fight and that Reese could easily lose, but he's willing to take the chance.

"Ah, fuck it. I'll take zach reese. Yeah might as well. Terrible fight."
LOSS vs Kyle Daukaus
KO R1 0:43 · UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang · Aug 23, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kyle Daukaus 0 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michel Pereira 1 5 of 8 62% 7 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kyle Daukaus 0 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michel Pereira 1 5 of 8 62% 7 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kyle Daukaus 2 of 4 50% 0 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michel Pereira 5 of 8 62% 5 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kyle Daukaus 2 of 4 50% 0 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michel Pereira 5 of 8 62% 5 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 7
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Michel Pereira vs. Kyle Daukaus

Round 1
The younger Daukaus brother returns to the UFC after a mixed first run in the Octagon followed a second middleweight title win in
Cage Fury Fighting Championships
after his release. Tasked with getting Daukaus’ second stint off to a bad start will be noted Brazilian madman Pereira. The referee on duty is Marc Goddard. Daukaus is southpaw, Pereira orthodox. Daukaus stalks forward and Pereira gives ground. Pereira nails Daukaus with a huge body kick, but he wears it well.
Seconds later, Daukaus clips the onrushing “Demolidor” with a short right hook to the jaw that drops him to his butt. Pereira tries to rally, but Daukaus pounces with a couple of glancing fists, then three jackhammer elbows that spur Goddard into action for the save.
Sensational knockout and a triumphant return for “The D’Arce Knight,” and for those keeping track at home, that makes two sub-minute finishes in the first four fights at UFC Shanghai. Yes, please.

The Official Result
Kyle Daukaus def. Michel Pereira R1 0:43 via KO (Punches and Elbows)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Angelo is very confident in Michel Pereira, calling him an absolute beast with insane athleticism, real power, and solid wrestling and BJJ. He notes that Pereira is a better hammer than nail and that his recent loss was uncharacteristic, partly due to personal life issues. He dismisses Kyle Daukaus as not good at the UFC level despite regional wins, and expects Pereira to beat the brakes off him. He even says if Pereira doesn't win, cut them both.

"I think Michelle Pa comes in here, beats the absolute breaks off of Kyle Dawkins, and gets back on track."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Big Brady picks Michel Pereira to win by first-round knockout, despite Pereira's recent poor performance against Abus Magomedov. He believes the matchup is favorable for Pereira because Daukaus is hittable and fragile, and Pereira has the striking advantage. He notes that Daukaus will struggle to take Pereira down and that Pereira should finish early with a body shot or flying knee.

Pereira by first round knockout
"Give me Michelle Pereira. I'll take him to win by first round knockout. Hopefully he doesn't bet against himself again."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Aug 22, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Michel Pereira

Connor also picks Pereira, but with reservations. He notes that Pereira has looked terrible recently and that Daukaus could win by making the fight ugly and clinging to clinches. However, he believes Pereira's athleticism and ability to land elbows in the clinch should carry him. He also points out that Daukaus is not a strong wrestler and tends to gas.

"I'm picking Pareda too, but I just want to be clear that yeah, it has been looking terrible."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The host acknowledges it's tough to trust Pereira after his last gunshy performance, but thinks he has a good opponent here to show off his power. He notes that Daukaus has crumbled under power before and expects Pereira to find a knockout.

win by KO/TKO
"I think he has a good enough partner here that he can show off his power once again. And we've seen Dawkins crumble under plenty of power before and Pereira can provide that and I think we'll see Pereira find …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 22, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Michel Pereira

The MMA Guru picks Michel Pereira to win, expecting an easy first-round finish. He believes Pereira is on another level compared to Kyle Daukaus, who is decent but lacks standout ability in any area. He notes that Pereira is much better at striking and moves well, which should carry him past Daukaus. However, he acknowledges that if the fight goes later, Daukaus could find success in the clinch.

first round finish
"This should be a pretty easy first round finish for Muel Preer. I think he's on another level to Kyle Dorcas."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Aug 22, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Michel Pereira

Zane picks Michel Pereira, noting that Pereira can 'cheat his way to victory by being an athlete.' He acknowledges that Pereira has looked shot recently and that Daukaus could make it ugly with clinch work, but believes Pereira's athleticism and striking should be enough to win. He also notes that Daukaus is not a good wrestler and tends to self-destruct.

"I think I'm going to pick Michelle Pareda too, because he can just cheat his way to victory by being an athlete."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates · Apr 26, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michel Pereira 0 73 of 168 43% 74 of 169 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 78 of 134 58% 83 of 140 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michel Pereira 0 7 of 20 35% 7 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 18 of 31 58% 23 of 37 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:52
2 Michel Pereira 0 25 of 58 43% 26 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 24 of 46 52% 24 of 46 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:09
3 Michel Pereira 0 41 of 90 45% 41 of 90 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 36 of 57 63% 36 of 57 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michel Pereira 73 of 168 43% 27 of 90 27 of 50 19 of 28 72 of 166 1 of 2 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 78 of 134 58% 53 of 99 19 of 29 6 of 6 72 of 128 3 of 3 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michel Pereira 7 of 20 35% 0 of 4 4 of 9 3 of 7 7 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 18 of 31 58% 10 of 23 5 of 5 3 of 3 13 of 26 2 of 2 3 of 3
2 Michel Pereira 25 of 58 43% 7 of 28 8 of 17 10 of 13 25 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 24 of 46 52% 14 of 30 8 of 14 2 of 2 24 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Michel Pereira 41 of 90 45% 20 of 58 15 of 24 6 of 8 40 of 88 1 of 2 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 36 of 57 63% 29 of 46 6 of 10 1 of 1 35 of 56 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Abusupiyan Magomedov vs. Michel Pereira
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pereira (-155), Magomedov (+130)

Round 1
This next middleweight affair could shape up to be a wild one before the dust settles. While he has scaled back on some of the antics that cost him wins in the past, Pereira (31-12, 2 NC; 9-3 UFC) is still unafraid to hit a back flip mid-fight even if landing on opponent with stomping feet is illegal. Who needs rules in a sport like this. Russian-born German knockout artist Magomedov (27-6-1, 3-2 UFC) is the much more composed of the two, but is no less dangerous. Referee Nick Berens will need to be on high alert until the conclusion of the bout, one that kicks off with a glove touch. Magomedov stabs out with a long kick to start things off, and Berens warns both fighters for outstretched fingers…and they don’t listen. Magomedov pitches out a front kick that goes wide, and Pereira swipes at his foe’s midsection only to be out of range. Pereira does get in with a left hand, and he is out of range before a counter finds him. Pereira jabs the body with a kick and has his guard raised to block an overhand right, and Magomedov puts on heavy pressure while leading with his front kick. Magomedov kicks the side with the same foot, and he lunges in behind two right hands that brush the Brazilian’s beard. Magomedov nails Pereira with a left hand, who stumbles and needs a second to gather his thoughts. Magomedov is not giving him that second, instead blasting “Demolidor” with a head kick. Pereira takes it somehow and rebounds to jab the body, but his legs might not be fully beneath him yet. Pereira gets backed to the fence, and he ducks an overhand right but falls to his back when Magomedov easily takes him down. Magomedov unloads with left hands and an elbow, and Pereira explodes to his feet. Magomedov hangs on from behind like an angry seatbelt, smacking Pereira upside the head until he climbs on the back and wraps his hooks around the waist. Magomedov releases the grip when he cannot locate the body triangle, and Pereira recognizes this is his moment to move and he moves with a spinning back elbow. Magomedov ignores it and loads up with two overhand rights, unconcerned about anything aimed his direction. Pereira stays on his bike, avoiding exchanges when he can while not committing to much on his own side. He gets off one front kick, and Magomedov strikes back with a right hand and a head kick to end the tepid round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 2
The middleweights bump fists to get going again, and Pereira does land first this time in the form of a low kick. He gets right back on his bike, entirely uncharacteristic for him as he typically presents far more aggressively. Pereira pulls back when thinking about throwing punches, and he is stuck in first gear while Magomedov can do anything. Magomedov jabs the body with his foot—it is not that Magomedov is putting a beating on Pereira, but he is nullifying the Brazilian to a surprising degree. Magomedov eats a knee coming in when shooting for a takedown, and Pereira tosses him aside and strikes with a single front kick. Magomedov gets back to chasing Pereira around, wrapping a right hand around the guard and ignoring a jab to the body coming his way. Pereira’s two punches land harmlessly on the chin, and he barely manages to avoid a booming uppercut and ties Magomedov up in a clinch. When Magomedov is going to use it against him, Pereira releases his grip and backs away. Pereira uses alternating front kicks to stay away, mixing in a few jabs. The crowd is not overly amused by the lack of engagement from the two, with Magomedov winning but not blowing him out of the water. The pace is slow and non-threatening, with Pereira fighting like someone afraid to run out of gas. Unfortunately for him, fighting while backing away is tiring as well. Pereira jabs a few times, and when he gets pushed back with a front kick, he meets Magomedov with the same strike. Pereira sticks out punches, and his front kick lands on the body. Even with volume now on his side, power is minimal and the lack of effective offense disappoints those in attendance and watching live. The less-than-stellar round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 3
The two men hug to start the last round, and the crowd showers them in boos. They answer the call with a simultaneous punch, and Magomedov recovers first and goes to the head and body with a few more punches. Pereira picks things up a little, swinging harder and actually putting some mustard in his fists. Pereira rips a left to the body, and Magomedov kicks his front leg in response. Pereira goes to the body again, and the long jab from Magomedov connects cleanly. Pereira tosses out a high kick that lightly bumps into the shoulder, and his left hooks are out of range. The fans, so frustrated with the match thus far, start taking out their phones and light up their screens while waving them around. Little changes inside the Octagon when they do this, other than a hard right hand and a knee to the body from Pereira. Magomedov drops down for a level change, and Pereira times a knee on the chin that is questionably legal as to whether a knee was down. It is ultimately immaterial, and the chanting made famous from Atlanta Braves fans and coopted by the Kansas City Chiefs faithful serenades everyone listening. Magomedov is irritated by the body work that Pereira has done this round, and he wings a pair of right hands that shake Pereira up. Pereira takes time to recover, and Magomedov allows him to do this as he appears to not have enough in the tank to do more. When Pereira jams a knee to his midsection, Magomedov suddenly looks totally out of steam. Magomedov’s kicks and punches are labored, with Pereira’s much heavier. Magomedov shoots from afar for a takedown with a minute to go, and Pereira pulls him back to his feet so he can score a knee. The Russian nails Pereira with a left hook, and Pereira wobbles but does not go down. Magomedov smacks Pereira upside the head with clean left hands, and Pereira is knocked around but throws back. With seconds to go, Pereira ramps things up, but it is far too late for anything to come from it. The huge bummer of a 15-minute slog is now in the books, and it is time to move on to the next fight.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)

The Official Result
Abusupiyan Magomedov def. Michel Pereira via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 20, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Angelo picks Michel Pereira, believing his athleticism and power will overwhelm Abusupiyan Magomedov. He notes that Abus is hittable and Pereira hits hard, and that Pereira should replicate Bruno Ferreira's success but without letting up. He is more confident now than in his initial breakdown, though he cautions about Pereira's cardio.

Odds tightening; may hold off if it goes to even money
"Michelle should beat the [__] out of this guy."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Big Brady picks Michel Pereira, dismissing his loss to Anthony Hernandez as irrelevant since Hernandez would do the same to Magomedov. He criticizes Magomedov's poor cardio and durability, noting he slows down after the first round. He expects Pereira to win by knockout, possibly in the second round.

second round knockout
"Give me Michelle Pereira to get back on track. I'll take Pereira to win this fight. I'll say he wins it by knockout. I'll say second round knockout for Michelle Pereira."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Connor picks Pereira because he is a much more evolved and athletic fighter compared to Magomedov, who has a limited game based on a one-two and top control. Pereira has shown growth and patience, and his speed and power will be too much for Magomedov's robotic striking. Connor notes that Magomedov's wins have aged poorly and he has been exposed by any decent fighter.

"Michelle Padera is an actually very good fighter who has learned a lot and evolved a lot over time, an incredible athlete."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 25, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Michel Pereira

The host likes Pereira's explosivity, athleticism, and power to shut down Magomedov's grappling, and expects Pereira to force a break and get a second or third round TKO.

TKO in round 2 or 3
"I think his explosivity, athleticism, and power will shut down the grappling game of Momedov... I think Pereira will force him to break eventually getting that second or third round TKO."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

The MMA Guru picks Abusupiyan Magomedov as an underdog. He criticizes Pereira's cardio and lack of MMA training, saying he gasses if he doesn't finish early. He notes Magomedov's improvements in grappling and cardio, and his reach advantage. He expects Magomedov to weather Pereira's early storm and win a decision, possibly chopping up Pereira's leg.

"I'm going with Abbas Magamemedov as an underdog. I think Abbas Magdov got a ton of [__] for not looking good against Strickland and also gassing out in that fight. But since then he has shown improvements."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Zane picks Pereira, emphasizing that Magomedov's game is one-dimensional and relies on size and pressure. Once a fighter is good enough to test him, Magomedov falls apart. Pereira has the speed and skill to counter Magomedov's takedowns and striking. Zane also notes that Magomedov's losses have aged well but his wins have not, and he is essentially a 'quadruple A' fighter.

"I trust put it at this point to come out the other side of a rough start or whatever, and there's not that much depth to Maga Madoff's game at all."
TKO (elbows) R5 2:22 · UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira · Oct 19, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Anthony Hernandez 0 152 of 212 71% 219 of 293 10 of 29 34% 0 0 15:42
Michel Pereira 0 24 of 53 45% 29 of 62 0 of 1 0% 1 1 0:56
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Anthony Hernandez 0 27 of 52 51% 30 of 55 1 of 8 12% 0 0 1:25
Michel Pereira 0 15 of 34 44% 17 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
2 Anthony Hernandez 0 30 of 47 63% 47 of 68 2 of 6 33% 0 0 3:18
Michel Pereira 0 2 of 7 28% 2 of 7 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:35
3 Anthony Hernandez 0 44 of 55 80% 64 of 77 2 of 6 33% 0 0 4:17
Michel Pereira 0 3 of 8 37% 4 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
4 Anthony Hernandez 0 29 of 35 82% 48 of 62 3 of 6 50% 0 0 4:35
Michel Pereira 0 3 of 3 100% 5 of 9 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
5 Anthony Hernandez 0 22 of 23 95% 30 of 31 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:07
Michel Pereira 0 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Anthony Hernandez 152 of 212 71% 125 of 182 22 of 24 5 of 6 43 of 81 12 of 14 97 of 117
Michel Pereira 24 of 53 45% 8 of 27 16 of 26 0 of 0 20 of 45 4 of 8 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Anthony Hernandez 27 of 52 51% 20 of 42 5 of 7 2 of 3 17 of 40 4 of 5 6 of 7
Michel Pereira 15 of 34 44% 7 of 19 8 of 15 0 of 0 12 of 28 3 of 6 0 of 0
2 Anthony Hernandez 30 of 47 63% 25 of 42 4 of 4 1 of 1 9 of 15 0 of 1 21 of 31
Michel Pereira 2 of 7 28% 0 of 4 2 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Anthony Hernandez 44 of 55 80% 31 of 42 11 of 11 2 of 2 8 of 15 4 of 4 32 of 36
Michel Pereira 3 of 8 37% 1 of 4 2 of 4 0 of 0 2 of 6 1 of 2 0 of 0
4 Anthony Hernandez 29 of 35 82% 28 of 34 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 6 3 of 3 21 of 26
Michel Pereira 3 of 3 100% 0 of 0 3 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Anthony Hernandez 22 of 23 95% 21 of 22 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 5 1 of 1 17 of 17
Michel Pereira 1 of 1 100% 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Hernandez (-135), Pereira (+114)

Round 1
Much like last week, the UFC put on an event with an alright lineup on paper and what looks like an absolute thriller in the main attraction. At UFC Fight Night 244, Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira threw down in a “Fight of the Year” candidate, and the promotion is trotting out another matchup that could deliver bonkers action before it is said and done. Streaking middleweights go at it for five rounds to push to the next echelon of the weight class, and oddsmakers do not expect this one will go the distance. Winner of five straight with four stoppages, Hernandez (12-2, 1 NC; 6-2 UFC) keeps passing tests with flying colors, while high-flying Brazilian Pereira (31-11, 2 NC; 9-2 UFC) is a buzzsaw destroying anyone he meets at the new weight class. Referee Herb Dean draws the charge for the main attraction, and he brings the two together to touch gloves and seal the cage. It’s on with the show. Hernandez advances but is quickly met by a swarming Pereira, who swats at him with two jabs and a left hand. Hernandez slips out of the way, and when walking forward again, he is stabbed in the body with a powerful front kick that appears to hurt him. Pereira marches forward to continue working the body, and Hernandez grimaces and leans against the cage. Pereira tries to finish the job with a torrid salvo of strikes, and Hernandez toughs it out, bounces off the cage and wings a right hand to keep his man honest. Pereira backs off, kicks him in the ribs, and retreats. Hernandez marches the Brazilian down, slugging him to set up a takedown attempt. Hernandez reaches his foe with a right hand, and one of pieces of ear tape falls off. Hernandez spins with a wheel kick that glances off the guard, and his pressure makes Pereira retreat. Pereira gets pushed against the wall, turns about and comes out swinging. Hernandez has a spinning back kick land flush in close range, and he punches his way into a single-leg entry. Hernandez falls to his back as he tries to complete the takedown, and he stands back up before Pereira can make him pay for the attempt. Pereira checks a kick and digs a left to the liver, and he defends a shot with an effective sprawl and avoids a looping right. Pereira sets up a Thai clinch to knee his man repeatedly, and Hernandez punches his way out of it and backs Pereira up once more. Hernandez leans on Pereira against the fencing, and he surprises “Demolidor” with a spinning back elbow. Hernandez uses the close range to rip Pereira off his feet with a body lock and a trip, landing on top in a modified half guard. Hernandez sits and stands to land a bit of ground-and-pound, with the horn breaking them up.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez

Round 2
A fist bump leads to Hernandez jabbing and shooting in on the hips for a takedown. Pereira defends against it to break out of the attempt, and he pushes off and grazes Pereira’s eye with a swipe of his finger. Dean sternly warns Hernandez for the foul, and Pereira takes 30 seconds before he is ready to return. Hernandez reintroduces himself with a spinning back kick to the leg, and he punches high to shoot in low. Pereira sprawls successfully, getting pushed to the wall and turning his man about to escape. Pereira prepares for the takedown that will inevitably come by snatching hold of a guillotine choke as Hernandez shoots. Pereira uses the submission to briefly assume mount, and Hernandez worms his way out to claim top position. Hernandez opens up with ground-and-pound, smacking Pereira with his free left hand. “Fluffy” shuts down Pereira’s bucks and movements to get out, and he takes advantage of a moment to take Pereira’s back and set up an arm-triangle choke. The Brazilian wildly turns through the submission and fights back to his feet. Hernandez chases after him, grabbing hold of Pereira with a double and dumping him to the mat. Hernandez controls Pereira, imposing his weight on him while Pereira stands. When Pereira does get back up, Hernandez puts a hole on his morale by hitting a double. Pereira defends from a submission, sitting up to absorb punches, and Hernandez tries another guillotine. Pereira protects his neck once more, and Hernandez stands up and knees him in the chest. Hernandez follows a rolling, grounded Pereira with big right hands, and he opens up with elbows. The horn sounds while Hernandez is laying into him, and he helps Pereira up to his feet.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez

Round 3
There is a touch of gloves to get going, with Pereira on full defense mode thanks to his corner telling him to take the round off to recover. Hernandez leads off with a takedown shot, and he drags Pereira down from his side. The Brazilian bursts back to his feet, and Hernandez clips him with short but effective punches until Pereira circles away. Hernandez shoots and is stuffed, leading to Hernandez going deep on the hips with a double. When that fails, he pursues a body lock, and Pereira pushes him away and wants to set up a Thai clinch to knee Hernandez in the face. Hernandez uses that clinch to jam Pereira up instead, and he hits a double and climbs into half guard. Pereira is quick to turn to his side in an effort to escape, but Hernandez easily thwarts that and pounds on the Brazilian. Hernandez grinds with elbows, and he steps over to the side and right into mount. Pereira times the push off the hips to stop Hernandez from getting dominant position for long, so Hernandez drops down a hearty elbow on his jaw. Hernandez attacks an arm-triangle choke, and he allows Pereira to turn to his side so he can further lock it down. Pereira grits out the choke and is punched in the back of the head, and Hernandez adjusts his trajectory while Pereira returns to a knee. Hernandez elbows his man in the side repeatedly to further take wind out of his sails, kneeing the other side as Pereira is stuck clinging to Hernandez’ left wrist. Hernandez paints Pereira’s face with his fists until the horn sounds, and Pereira has somehow reached the championship rounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Hernandez
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Hernandez
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-8 Hernandez

Round 4
The tired fighters clap hands to get going, and Hernandez wastes little time to shoot in for a takedown. Pereira remains upright, with Hernandez pushing him to the wire but not able to ground him. Pereira breaks free and times an uppercut, and he kicks the body and eats a right hand. Hernandez hits a takedown even with a knee landing on his jaw, and he begins to smother the Brazilian some more. Pereira leans to his side to not be flattened out in either way, and Hernandez measures him with elbows while smacking him with free right hands. Pereira turns over to his knees to stand back to his feet, and he celebrates a moral victory by stopping a subsequent trip attempt. Hernandez gingerly sets him down, and he uses his body weight to shove Pereira to his seat. Hernandez opens up with elbow after elbow, and he chains several punches together to force Pereira to turn over and put his head on the mat. Hernandez holds on from the side, finding one serious undercut before Pereira gets to a knee. Even totally wiped out, Pereira manages to get back to his feet once more. Hernandez pursues a double and plants Pereira flat on his back, taking to half guard and framing off to drill the Brazilian with hammerfists. Hernandez’ blows begin to get louder and heavier, and Dean watches on closely but is not ready to intervene just yet. Dean asks Pereira to fight back, and Pereira somehow wills himself back to his feet miraculously. Hernandez spins with an elbow, and Pereira is barely able to stand up but is throwing hands. Pereira shoots for a single, and Hernandez easily lowers him to the mat. The round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez

Round 5
The middleweights hug it out as they have gotten through 20 minutes of combat, and Hernandez wants nothing more than to drag the fight to his world. Pereira survives the first attempt, and hits his hands and knees on the second. Pereira wrenches his way upright despite a record number of takedown attempts at middleweight put on him. Hernandez goes for one more and digs deep to scoop Pereira off his feet and dump on him on his backside. Hernandez moves to half guard rather than side control so he can establish more control, and he sharpens his elbow and slashes it down like a horror movie villain to spilt Pereira’s eyebrow wide open. Blood is soon to flow, and he turns over to halt the bludgeoning. Dean calls for Pereira to fight back, and Hernandez seizes his moment, knowing that he does not need much more to get a stoppage. “Fluffy” lets his man have it with a final salvo of elbows, finishing the job and further extending his impressive win streak. Dean waves them off, and Pereira appears to still want to continue fighting as he doggedly clings to Hernandez’ leg until Dean lets him know the fight is over. This performance will likely hurl the Californian to new heights, and he admits he does not know the roster well enough to know a proper name to call out. Instead, he asks the UFC brass to give him a title eliminator, believing he needs one more win to get a crack at gold. There will be a wealth of options at his disposal, and most names in the top 10 are fresh matchups for him. When he takes on his next challenge, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.

The Official Result
Anthony Hernandez def. Michel Pereira R5 2:22 via TKO (Elbows)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 13, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Angelo picks Michel Pereira as an underdog, having bet on him at +135. He believes Pereira's athleticism, power, and grappling are too much for Anthony Hernandez, whose only path to victory is grappling. He thinks Pereira is the more dynamic and dangerous fighter, and that Hernandez cannot out-strike him. He notes Pereira's recent success at middleweight and dismisses cardio concerns, saying Pereira has shown he can maintain pace. He is confident Pereira wins.

bet on Pereira at +135
"Michelle P is the pick and I think we're going to Rattle off a couple of Underdog wins"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Anthony Hernandez

Big Brady picks Anthony Hernandez by third-round submission. He sees it as Pereira early, Hernandez late. Pereira has three quick wins but gasses; Hernandez has great cardio and grappling. If Hernandez survives the first five to seven minutes, he will take over, take Pereira down, and finish him in the third round. He mentions a good live bet spot.

third round submission, live bet
"I like Hernandez here probably a good live bet spot for sure um but yeah I like Hernandez to get it done I'll say third round submission for for Anthony Hernandez"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Anthony Hernandez

Connor picks Hernandez, comparing his style to a larger, more skilled Tristan Connelly who will make Pereira pay for every bad decision. He notes that Hernandez's pace and pressure grappling are exactly the kind of game that troubled Pereira in the past. However, he acknowledges that Hernandez might get knocked out early, as he has been hurt in many of his recent wins.

"I am very much inclined to pick Anthony Hernandez while also having to acknowledge that he might just get dusted"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Feb 21, 2026 (fight day)
Anthony Hernandez

Lucrative James believes Fluffy Hernandez will overwhelm Sean Strickland with constant forward pressure, takedown attempts, and volume. He notes that Strickland struggles when opponents don't let him establish his jab and one-two rhythm. James predicts Hernandez will win a decision by outworking Strickland over five rounds.

"I think Fluffy Hernandez has a lot of volume... he's going to walk forward, shoot takedowns, throw kicks, throw punches... I believe that is the way to offset Shawn's game entirely."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Anthony Hernandez

Pereira will be dangerous in the opening five minutes, but Hernandez has done a great job wearing opponents down, keeping them in the clinch, taking them down, and utilizing submission attempts. Hernandez will wear Pereira down and get a finish in the third or fourth round.

finish in round 3 or 4
"I think that Hernandez has done a great job in terms of finding ways to wear opponents down keep them in the clinch take them to the ground Matt return them utilize a ton of submission attempts but eventually wear …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The Guru picks Pereira despite acknowledging Hernandez's grappling skills. He believes Pereira's athleticism, power, and body work will be too much, predicting an early finish by TKO or submission. He notes Pereira has finished all his middleweight opponents quickly and envisions Pereira stuffing a takedown, landing knees to the body, and getting a guillotine or rear-naked choke.

early finish, TKO or submission, body work
"I'm going to go Mel P I think he's two athletic too strong too powerful"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Zane picks Pereira because of his insane speed at middleweight, which he believes Hernandez will not be ready for. He acknowledges that if Hernandez survives the early onslaught, he will likely take over with pressure and grappling, but Zane trusts Pereira's athleticism to get the job done early. He notes that Pereira has learned to pace himself after the Tristan Connelly loss, but still has that loss in him.

Pereira opened at +132, now +115; Hernandez opened -147, now -128
"I am gonna take Pereira cuz he's just so goddamn fast at middleweight"
WIN vs Ihor Potieria
Submission (guillotine choke) R1 0:54 · UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg · May 04, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michel Pereira 0 6 of 10 60% 6 of 10 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:09
Ihor Potieria 0 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michel Pereira 0 6 of 10 60% 6 of 10 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:09
Ihor Potieria 0 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michel Pereira 6 of 10 60% 4 of 7 2 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 4
Ihor Potieria 2 of 3 66% 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michel Pereira 6 of 10 60% 4 of 7 2 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 4
Ihor Potieria 2 of 3 66% 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pereira (-535), Potieria (+400)

Round 1
Keeping the action pushing, surging wild man Pereira (30-11, 2 NC; 8-2 UFC) is ready to push his win streak to eight at the expense of struggling Ukrainian Potieria (20-5, 2-3 UFC). Since moving to middleweight, Pereira has appeared to have leveled up, while Potieria also shows that changing gears to 185 pounds did him some good. Referee Fernando Portella will see who makes it out of this encounter, and before it begins, the fighters sternly bump fists together. Pereira hops from side to side, his hands not particularly high, and he ignores a low kick coming his way to jab the body and follow it with a straight punch to the same target. Potieria retaliates with a slapping leg kick, and Pereira leaps at him with a straight right hand that knocks Potieria off his feet. The maniac Brazilian back flips and lands with his knee on Potieria, which is an illegal blow as Potieria is grounded. Nevertheless, Portella stands back, marveling at the move pulled off before his eyes. Pereira decides to latch onto a guillotine choke, and he allows Potieria to stand up and wrench the neck on the way up. Pereira squeezes with all his might, and “The Duelist” frantically taps out. As Pereira releases the grip, Potieria falls to his back, completely unconscious. Before Portella can reach him, Potieria’s head clatters lifelessly off the canvas. Pereira solemnly walks away, until he sees that Potieria has regained consciousness, and he starts dancing to celebrate. Meanwhile, commission officials speak to UFC brass about the foul, determining whether or not it impacted the result and if Pereira should be penalized for it. Given the nature of the strike, a disqualification is not off the table--although Portella did not call the foul during the action, so that may be unlikely--and a post-fight review might also find another result.

The Official Result
Michel Pereira def. Ihor Potieria R1 0:54 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 28, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Angelo is confident in Pereira, citing his speed, power, creativity, and grappling. He notes Potieria is a technical striker but hittable and with poor takedown defense. He expects Pereira to win by finish.

Angelo says 'he probably wins by finish'
"Michelle peda is the pick and he probably wins by finish"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Big Brady is high on Pereira's middleweight resurgence, noting his two quick finishes. He views Potieria as a step down and believes Pereira will knock him out in the first round, possibly mid to late.

"I think he Sparks Pia I think he does it in the first round."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 1, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Cody picks Pereira, noting his improved fight IQ, cardio, and well-roundedness at middleweight. He believes Potieria is a one-dimensional knockout artist with poor durability and cardio. Cody expects Pereira to win, likely by knockout.

Pereira by KO
"I think he wins probably by knockout..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked May 2, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Daniel Vreeland agrees with Jeff Fox on Michel Pereira. He notes that Pereira has chilled out his wild style since gassing out against Tristan Connelly, and has been on a seven-fight winning streak. Vreeland thinks Pereira will win easily, though he doesn't elaborate on a specific method. He later mentions that Pereira's submission prop has moved from +650 to +370, indicating the books are aware of his submission threat.

"I think he was gassing himself out being a wild man so yeah yeah that that's his lost to Tristan Connelly right like that's how he lost he's been weird chose not to do that from then on"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked May 1, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Daniel Vreeland leans with Pereira but considers it a dog-or-pass situation. He acknowledges Potieria's recent improvements, including better cardio and confidence, but believes Pereira's top-15 trajectory and finishing ability give him the edge. He suggests that Pereira's decision prop at +550 might be a better value than the moneyline, as Potieria could last the distance.

Pereira by decision +550
"I'm gonna lean with Michelle but I'mma keep it a buck as always I think this is a dogger pass situation"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked May 2, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Jeff Fox is very confident in Michel Pereira, calling him a 'demolisher' and noting his seven-fight winning streak since two losses. Fox explains that one loss was due to an illegal knee against Diego Sanchez, and the other was a short-notice grappling loss to Tristan Connelly. Since then, Pereira has been more measured and finished opponents like Andre Petroski. Fox believes Potieria is not UFC caliber, with wins only over aged fighters like Shogun. He expects Pereira to do whatever he wants, and later in the show he picks Pereira by submission for the Hungry Man parlay.

Pereira by submission +370 (part of Hungry Man parlay)
"I don't think he's UFC caliber if I'm being completely honest with potier I think they're giving Michelle paa a chance to do whatever he wants in there"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 3, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Michel Pereira

Pereira is on a crazy run, harnessing his big striking power over 15 minutes. His speed and power advantage will be enough to find Potieria's chin and put him out clean.

knockout
"I expect his speed and power advantage to be more than enough for him to go out there and find the chin of portieria and putting him out clean"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 1, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Paul picks Pereira, highlighting his 8-2 UFC record, athleticism, and evolution into a winning style. He dismisses Potieria's chances, citing his poor durability, cardio, and ground game. Paul sees Pereira as a rightful favorite.

"Gotta go with Pereira... I understand why he's the big favorite."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The MMA Guru picks Michel Pereira, praising his skills at middleweight and noting that welterweights often make better middleweights. He highlights Pereira's wins over Andre Petroski and Maxime Gremont, and predicts a first-round rear-naked choke. He criticizes Potieria's record and recent performances, including a loss to Shogun Rua.

rear naked choke round one
"I'm going to say rear naked choke round one for Mel per"
Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 1:01 · UFC 299: O'Malley vs. Vera 2 · Mar 09, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michel Pereira 0 11 of 15 73% 11 of 15 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:18
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michel Pereira 0 11 of 15 73% 11 of 15 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:18
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michel Pereira 11 of 15 73% 5 of 9 6 of 6 0 of 0 9 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 1 of 4 25% 0 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michel Pereira 11 of 15 73% 5 of 9 6 of 6 0 of 0 9 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 1 of 4 25% 0 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Michal Oleksiejczuk vs. Michel Pereira
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pereira (-148), Oleksiejczuk (+124)

Round 1
A casual observer might look at this battle of Michel vs. Michal and not immediately know which one competed at light heavyweight recently. By the size of Pereira (29-11, 2 NC; 7-2 UFC), he does not look like the kind of person that made welterweight in 2022. On the other hand, Oleksiejczuk (19-6, 1 NC; 7-4, 1 NC UFC) appears well-suited for his newer, lighter weight class, and his knockout last year over Chidi Njokuani shines on his ledger. Pereira is psyched to compete in Miami, and he brings his cousin with him to do a synchronized, choreographed dance before walking out. This potentially wild 185-pound affair will be officiated by referee Dan Miragliotta, and there is a quick glove touch from the competitors to get it going. Pereira hops back and forth, changing stances, and he dodges a right hand and rips two kicks to the body. Oleksiejczuk goes over the top with a right hook, and Pereira backs off and skirts to the side. Pereira lands two speedy punches before springing to the side, and he drives a right hand on the solar plexus and hurts Oleksiejczuk. Oleksiejczuk backs off to the fence, bent over but trying to remain on his feet, and Pereira charges at him and knees him twice in the same spot to buckle the Polish fighter’s knees.
Oleksiejczuk slumps to the ground, and Pereira leaps around to take his back and grab hold of a rear-naked choke without even bothering to get a hook in. The Brazilian locks down the choke and his forearm slides beneath the chin, and he squeezes with all his might. Oleksiejczuk does not once consider tapping, and he fades into unconsciousness as the submission puts him all the way out.
Miragliotta pulls them apart when recognizing Oleksiejczuk is out cold, and Pereira rushes to the center of the cage and breakdances to celebrate. What a performance for Pereira, who has now won seven in a row and may soon be a contender at his new weight class of middleweight.

The Official Result
Michel Pereira def. Michal Oleksiejczuk R1 1:01 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Angelo picks Michel Pereira, citing his better cardio, power, and grappling. He notes Oleksiejczuk has a great chin but can fade. He has a half-unit bet on Pereira at -130, but keeps it small because Oleksiejczuk could survive early and outpoint him.

Half unit bet on Pereira at -130.
"I still think P wins this fight and I do like the odds at minus 130 I've got a little bit of a bet on that as well half a unit on P here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Big Brady picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to win by decision. He notes that while Pereira has a BJJ black belt, he doesn't wrestle often and lacks the cardio to grapple for 15 minutes. He expects the fight to stay on the feet, where Oleksiejczuk's forward pressure, body work, and volume will wear down Pereira and win the later rounds.

win by decision
"I'm going to go Mel o to win this fight Win It by decision I think the bodyw work's going to come into play the cardio the volume is all going to come into play"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Cody notes that Pereira has matured and now fights more conservatively, using his accuracy and wrestling. He thinks Oleksiejczuk is a reckless brawler with poor takedown defense, and Pereira will counter him and mix in takedowns to win a decision.

"I will go with Pereira"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 4, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Oleksiejczuk has great durability and forward pressure, marching forward and breaking opponents with his boxing. He has eaten clean shots and continued to push. Pereira is dangerous early with his unorthodox power, but Oleksiejczuk's durability should allow him to weather the early storm. As the fight goes on, Oleksiejczuk will start to catch Pereira, coral him against the cage, and land combinations. I expect Oleksiejczuk to get a finish in the second or third round, possibly by knockout.

Oleksiejczuk by knockout, live betting Oleksiejczuk after first round
"I have to lean with the O shuk side here as I believe that his durability will allow him to kind of just way through the early threat that Pera normally uh implements in his fights and from there I …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Paul agrees, highlighting Pereira's improved fight IQ and the fact that he looked great at 185. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's wrestling is exploitable and that Pereira has multiple ways to win.

"Pereira is the pick for me as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The MMA Guru picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, citing concerns about Michel Pereira's finishing ability and cardio. He notes Pereira failed to finish chinny fighters like Andre Fialho and Nico Price, and that Oleksiejczuk is extremely tough and has power. He predicts Oleksiejczuk will pressure Pereira, take him down, and finish with a body shot TKO in round two.

round two body shot TKO
"I'm GNA say round two body shot TKO from maau Alex huk"
TKO (punches) R1 1:06 · UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza · Oct 14, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michel Pereira 0 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andre Petroski 1 6 of 18 33% 6 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michel Pereira 0 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andre Petroski 1 6 of 18 33% 6 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michel Pereira 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andre Petroski 6 of 18 33% 5 of 17 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 12
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michel Pereira 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andre Petroski 6 of 18 33% 5 of 17 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 12
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Michel Pereira vs. Andre Petroski
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pereira (-180), Petroski (+150)

Round 1
Action shifts to the middleweight division, where Pereira (28-11, 6-2 UFC) takes on Andrei Petroski (10-1, 5-0 UFC) in one of the more anticipated bouts on the card. Petroski fills in for Marc-Andre Barriault on short notice. Tognoni steps up to preside over the match. Petroski takes the center of the cage, with his Brazilian counterpart bouncing on the balls of his feet. Pereira using stance switches and feints to keep him guessing.
Pereira floors him with a thudding right hand and buries him with standing-to-ground punches. Petroski never intelligently defended himself once the barrage started
.

The Official Result
Michel Pereira def. Andre Petroski—TKO (Punches) 1:06 R1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Angelo is confident in Michel Pereira due to Petroski stepping up on short notice with questionable cardio. He notes Pereira is taller, has decent cardio, and is the busier fighter. He thinks Petroski's cardio issues will be exacerbated by the short notice, and Pereira should win.

"I'm going to go Michelle P here and I'm pretty confident in that and it's really because of the short notice"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Andre Petroski

Big Brady picks Andre Petroski to win by third-round TKO. He notes Pereira has only fought strikers and lost to grappler Tristan Connelly, while Petroski is a big middleweight with strong grappling. He expects both to tire, but Petroski's cardio holds up and he gets a late finish.

Petroski by TKO in round 3
"I'm going to take patoski here I'm sure I'm going to be absolutely on Island here but I think this fight's going to be very close and competitive and I'm going to say pataski goes out there and finishes Pereira …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Cody picks Pereira, emphasizing his excellent takedown defense and the fact that Petroski relies heavily on takedowns. He notes that Petroski gasses out and that judges are now scoring damage and volume over control time. Cody believes Pereira's striking and cardio advantage will carry him, and that Petroski's path to victory is narrow.

"Michelle Pereira I certainly don't mind"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Oct 12, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The host picks Michel Pereira but is queasy about the minus 220 price due to Petroski's early grappling danger. He expects violence and a late stoppage, specifically a third-round knockout by Pereira. He suggests the under as a better bet if the price is right.

Pereira by third round knockout; under 1.5 rounds if plus money
"I'm going to go with Pereira here not so hot on the money line but I feel like vience is going to be the spot it's going to be Pereira by third round knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Paul picks Pereira, citing his takedown defense (92% in UFC) and improved fight IQ. He notes that Pereira has stopped doing reckless moves and is fighting more fundamentally. Paul believes Pereira's cardio will be better at 185 lbs and that he can stuff Petroski's takedowns and out-strike him. He acknowledges the price (-200) is steep but thinks Pereira wins.

Over 2.5 rounds at -105
"I'll pick Pereira"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 10, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The MMA Guru picks Michel Pereira to win by TKO over Andre Petroski. He argues that welterweights moving up to middleweight are technically better, citing examples. He criticizes Petroski's last performance against Gerald Meerschaert, saying he looked terrible and took heavy damage. He notes Petroski is fighting on short notice (8 weeks after a war) and doesn't trust his cardio. He believes Pereira has a massive striking advantage and explosive hips to get back up if taken down.

TKO
"I'm going to go Mel paa I think he's got much better striking much better technique"
André Fialho - Fight History
LOSS vs Tim Means
TKO (punches) R3 1:15 · UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Gamrot · Sep 23, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tim Means 2 104 of 143 72% 134 of 178 0 of 2 0% 0 1 2:51
André Fialho 0 51 of 103 49% 56 of 110 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:48
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tim Means 1 39 of 53 73% 44 of 58 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:22
André Fialho 0 19 of 47 40% 19 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Tim Means 0 48 of 69 69% 73 of 99 0 of 1 0% 0 1 1:29
André Fialho 0 29 of 50 58% 32 of 54 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:48
3 Tim Means 1 17 of 21 80% 17 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
André Fialho 0 3 of 6 50% 5 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tim Means 104 of 143 72% 66 of 103 33 of 35 5 of 5 56 of 87 30 of 35 18 of 21
André Fialho 51 of 103 49% 32 of 75 15 of 23 4 of 5 35 of 86 16 of 17 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tim Means 39 of 53 73% 21 of 34 16 of 17 2 of 2 25 of 36 8 of 10 6 of 7
André Fialho 19 of 47 40% 8 of 31 8 of 13 3 of 3 13 of 41 6 of 6 0 of 0
2 Tim Means 48 of 69 69% 33 of 53 14 of 15 1 of 1 22 of 39 14 of 16 12 of 14
André Fialho 29 of 50 58% 24 of 44 4 of 4 1 of 2 19 of 39 10 of 11 0 of 0
3 Tim Means 17 of 21 80% 12 of 16 3 of 3 2 of 2 9 of 12 8 of 9 0 of 0
André Fialho 3 of 6 50% 0 of 0 3 of 6 0 of 0 3 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Sep 17, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Tim Means

Angelo thinks Means can ugly up the fight and squeak out a close decision. He notes Means is tough, busy, and has fought a who's who of welterweights. However, he is concerned about Means' age (39) and Fialho's power. He has very low confidence.

"I do think Tim Means can squeak this out super low confidence"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)
André Fialho

Big Brady picks André Fialho to win by first-round knockout, citing his power advantage and youth (10 years younger). He notes both fighters have poor durability, but Fialho hits like a truck. He worries about Fialho's horrible cardio and thinks he must finish early. He says nobody should be confident on either side.

first round knockout
"I'm gonna say Fiola gets the first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Tim Means

Cody picks Tim Means as a live underdog, citing Fialho's poor chin and hesitancy against strikers. He notes Means's crafty striking, wrestling, and experience. He believes Means can outwork Fialho, who has been knocked out by lesser competition.

"I'm gonna take Tim Means for the underdog selection... plus 155 that was available to me."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)
André Fialho

Daniel hesitantly picks Fialho based on youth and power, but admits he doesn't trust either fighter. He notes Means is 39 and doesn't react well to shots anymore, while Fialho has three straight KO losses. He thinks Means is the better technical fighter but age and chin are concerns. He expects a violent fight and leans Fialho by KO, but with low confidence.

"probably a FIU win here and then we look to fed him his next fight against like a young gun"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)
André Fialho

Lucrative James feels Fialho will knock out Means, citing Means' declining durability and reaction times. He likes Fialho's left hook and calm striking style. He considers betting Fialho inside the distance but notes the line is -135, which he doesn't love. He also mentions Means decision as a possible hedge.

Fialho inside the distance -135 considered; Means decision considered
"I kind of feel like Fialho's gonna knock him out."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)
André Fialho

The host picks Fialho to win by first-round knockout, despite normally fading him. He notes Fialho's power advantage and Means' questionable durability and age (39). He expects Fialho to land a barrage early and finish Means. He also likes the prop 'fight doesn't go to decision' as a safer play, expecting either an early Fialho KO or a late Means finish.

fight doesn't go to decision
"I think that fialio gets that first round knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Tim Means

Paul picks Tim Means simply because he refuses to lay chalk on Fialho. He notes both fighters are quick starters and expects a finish. He has no strong confidence but likes the plus money.

"I suppose I'm leaning towards Tim The Dirty Bird means strictly because I could see this fight going both ways and he's got a plus 140 price tag next to him literally nothing more than that."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Sep 19, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Tim Means

The MMA Guru initially leans toward André Fialho but changes his pick to Tim Means after a lengthy internal debate. He worries about Means' age and declining athleticism but has a 'sneaky feeling' Means will catch Fialho. He notes Fialho's tendency to get knocked out and Means' effective one-two combinations. He predicts a TKO in round one, with Means backing Fialho against the cage and landing a one-two. He admits he is hesitant and almost picked Fialho.

TKO round one
"I'm going Tim minz I'm going Tim Means getting a TKO over Andre fiallo he was winning against morono I I knew this would happen dude I told myself not to pick him but here I am..."
LOSS vs Joaquin Buckley
TKO (head kick) R2 4:15 · UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill · May 20, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Joaquin Buckley 0 22 of 51 43% 22 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
André Fialho 1 26 of 89 29% 27 of 90 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:23
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Joaquin Buckley 0 8 of 19 42% 8 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
André Fialho 0 10 of 36 27% 10 of 36 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:20
2 Joaquin Buckley 0 14 of 32 43% 14 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
André Fialho 1 16 of 53 30% 17 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Joaquin Buckley 22 of 51 43% 14 of 42 7 of 8 1 of 1 21 of 50 1 of 1 0 of 0
André Fialho 26 of 89 29% 12 of 66 9 of 18 5 of 5 26 of 89 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Joaquin Buckley 8 of 19 42% 4 of 15 4 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0
André Fialho 10 of 36 27% 6 of 29 2 of 5 2 of 2 10 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Joaquin Buckley 14 of 32 43% 10 of 27 3 of 4 1 of 1 14 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
André Fialho 16 of 53 30% 6 of 37 7 of 13 3 of 3 16 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Joaquin Buckley vs. Andre Fialho
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Buckley (-225), Fialho (+190)

Round 1
A welterweight striker’s delight is about to be on display between the power-punching Fialho (16-6, 1 NC; 2-3 UFC) and furious finisher Buckley (15-6, 5-4 UFC). With 24 knockouts across their 31 pro wins, referee Kerry Hatley will need to bring his A-game to the party. Interested solely in trying to knock the other’s block off shortly, they do not share a glove touch. The offense is relatively muted for the first 30 seconds, until Buckley engages with a swift body kick. Buckley attempts a kick on the other side, and Fialho watches him closely without striking back. “New Mansa” skims the top of the head with his shin, and Fialho shakes it off and keeps his arm high to block it. The kicks keep coming from Buckley, and he darts forward with a looping right hand that Fialho turns his face to barely avoid. Buckley throws two punches and a kick, and he spins with a wheel kick. Buckley charges with another spinning kick, and Fialho finally attempts to counter with a check hook. Buckley runs at his foe, throwing fists, and Fialho sits down on his punches to respond. They trade fierce fists, and Fialho kicks Buckley in the head when Buckley is leaned over. The former middleweight eats it like a steak, and he walks forward to throw two booming hooks. Fialho backs him off with a jab, and he dodges a flying knee and a right hand to score a short left when Buckley lands. Buckley explodes into a takedown attempt, dumping the Portuguese fighter to the mat. Fialho is not on the ground for more than a second before climbing back up. Buckley spins without throwing anything, and he absorbs a loud body kick on the way out. Buckley gets tagged on the way forward, and he runs from one side of the cage to the other to deposit Fialho to the canvas. Once more, Fialho works his way up, and he is thrown to the mat right as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Buckley

Round 2
The welterweights meet in the middle, and Fialho loops a left hand around the guard and follows it with a body kick that bumps into the cup. Buckley immediately protests as the fight is paused by Hatley, and he takes about 25 seconds before going again. Fialho starts off again with a head kick, and he reaches his foe with a straight right hand. Buckley shakes it off and is tagged once again, and he rushes out with a barrage of inaccurate punches. The two trade punches, with Buckley ending the exchange with a right over the top. Buckley races in with a flying knee, and he wings a right hand and a left that bangs into the temple. Fialho appears no worse for wear, and Buckley kicks up to the same spot but it is blocked. Buckley, in a blitz, reaches Fialho and makes the Portuguese fighter bounce off the wall. Fialho gathers his bearings and lets off another body kick that hits the cup. Buckley shakes it a few times and they get back to trading. Fialho looks to time an advancing Buckley with a right hook, and Buckley attacks awkwardly without a lot of telegraphing to take advantage of. Fialho walks Buckley down with straight punches, but Buckley backs him away before long with a looping right hand and a spinning kick to the ribs. Buckley dances on the outside and sprints in, and he bangs his head into Fialho’s chin. Fialho takes a few seconds to clear his thoughts, and Buckley is on him.
Releasing a vicious head kick that slams square into the ear, Buckley knocks Fialho clean off his feet and down for the count. Fialho, grinning but barely clutching to his consciousness, succumbs to one follow-up right hand with Buckley lording over him that knocks him senseless. Hatley, who considered stopping the fight from the kick itself but waited an extra second, moves in to shove Buckley off of the downed Fialho when that last fist bashes into Fialho’s skull, with that blow arguably a late hit as Hatley had his hands on Buckley at the time.
There will be a question of whether Fialho should have taken some extra time after the clash of heads, but the head kick sealed the deal and then some. Buckley, in his victorious post-fight interview, maximizes his mic time by calling out the UFC sponsor of Prime and the Paul brother that runs it, telling them to sponsor athletes and not just the promotion itself.

The Official Result
Joaquin Buckley def. Andre Fialho R2 4:15 via TKO (Head Kick)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked May 14, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Angelo picks Buckley to win because he has wrestling if needed, better defense, and is faster and more athletic. However, he is wary of betting at -170 since both fighters have been knocked out recently. He suggests waiting for props, possibly 'does not go the distance' if the line is good.

Considering 'fight doesn't go to distance' prop if line is around +230
"I do think Buckley's gonna win this fight because he has the wrestling if he needs it he's got better defense he's certainly faster and more athletic Buckley's gonna be the pick but Jesus Christ Andre fiallo can knock out …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 12, 2023 (8 days before fight)
André Fialho

Big Brady picks André Fialho as the underdog to knock out Joaquin Buckley in the first round. He notes both fighters have power and poor durability, but he likes Fialho's early-round danger. He also mentions Buckley is moving down to welterweight after five years, which could affect his performance. He expects a stand-up war and believes Fialho lands the big shot first.

knockout in round 1
"give me if y'all to land that big shot knock out walking Buckley and I think it's in the first round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Cody believes Buckley's power and athleticism will be too much for Fialho, who has questionable durability and cardio. He expects Buckley to knock Fialho out, possibly early. He notes Buckley's move to welterweight is a positive and that Fialho's striking defense is lacking.

Buckley by knockout
"Buckley by knockout."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Connor also picks Buckley, echoing Zane's reasoning. He highlights that Fialho's indecision and poor chin are major liabilities, and that Buckley's creative striking will cause problems. He notes that Fialho has moments of being a good fighter but is inconsistent, and that Buckley's ability to mix up his attacks will keep Fialho guessing. He also expresses doubt about Buckley's move to welterweight but thinks Fialho is not the fighter to exploit it.

Fialho opened at +138, currently +192; Buckley opened at -155, currently -218.
"My instinct is that Andre Fialho does not have a good time with that. I think Buckley's creative combinations will overwhelm him."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Daniel Levi picks Joaquin Buckley but notes he missed the better line. He believes Buckley is faster, has better volume, and that 170 lbs is the right weight class for him. He worries about Buckley's tendency to engage in pocket exchanges, where Fialho's power could be dangerous, but thinks if Buckley fights smart on the outside, he can out-volume Fialho. He calls it a 'pure pick' and says he's not interested in betting at -225.

"pure pick Buckley but I mean I missed the line a long ass time ago so I'm not interested in betting it"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 15, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

The host picks Joaquin Buckley, expecting a knockout as Fialho fades in later rounds. He notes Buckley's technical boxing and high guard should allow him to crash the pocket and land cleaner punches. He likes the fight doesn't go to decision prop and predicts a round three TKO.

fight doesn't go to decision, round three TKO
"I like fight doesn't go to decision most in this matchup but I'm gonna go with Buckley to get this win and I think it comes by knockout and I'm gonna be targeting that round three spot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Paul agrees, noting that Buckley's move to welterweight is beneficial and that Fialho's durability is a concern. He mentions that Buckley can be methodical and that the fight could end early. He also likes the under on significant strikes for Buckley.

under 41.5 significant strikes for Buckley
"I'll be adding that to my prize picks card this week."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 16, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

The MMA Guru sides with Joaquin Buckley, despite praising Fialho's activity. He worries about Fialho's chin and notes he took damage in recent fights without enough time to improve. He believes Buckley is more elusive and has a better chin, and that Fialho lacks one-shot KO power. He expects Buckley to win, possibly by KO, but acknowledges it could go either way if there's a finish.

"I'm sliding with Joaquin Buckley here over Andre fialjo"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Zane picks Buckley, noting that despite Buckley's predictable entries and history of getting knocked out, Fialho's inconsistency and poor chin make him vulnerable. He argues that Fialho's confidence breaks easily and he tends to become indecisive, while Buckley's creative combinations and willingness to trade will overwhelm him over time. He also mentions that Fialho has been staggered by relatively innocuous shots.

Fialho opened at +138, currently +192; Buckley opened at -155, currently -218. Zane notes the line is a little wide given Buckley always gets hurt.
"I'm leaning Buckley. I don't think Fialho is going to sustain the confidence needed to win in any way other than a quick knockout."
LOSS vs Muslim Salikhov
TKO (spinning wheel kick and punches) R3 1:03 · UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cutelaba · Nov 19, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Muslim Salikhov 0 17 of 66 25% 29 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:20
André Fialho 0 56 of 95 58% 77 of 123 1 of 3 33% 0 0 3:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Muslim Salikhov 0 11 of 38 28% 20 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:20
André Fialho 0 11 of 22 50% 19 of 35 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:19
2 Muslim Salikhov 0 5 of 18 27% 7 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
André Fialho 0 37 of 57 64% 50 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:48
3 Muslim Salikhov 0 1 of 10 10% 2 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
André Fialho 0 8 of 16 50% 8 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Muslim Salikhov 17 of 66 25% 10 of 55 4 of 6 3 of 5 14 of 60 3 of 6 0 of 0
André Fialho 56 of 95 58% 38 of 70 14 of 21 4 of 4 35 of 60 3 of 8 18 of 27
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Muslim Salikhov 11 of 38 28% 6 of 29 3 of 5 2 of 4 8 of 34 3 of 4 0 of 0
André Fialho 11 of 22 50% 5 of 12 2 of 6 4 of 4 9 of 17 1 of 4 1 of 1
2 Muslim Salikhov 5 of 18 27% 3 of 16 1 of 1 1 of 1 5 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
André Fialho 37 of 57 64% 28 of 47 9 of 10 0 of 0 18 of 28 2 of 3 17 of 26
3 Muslim Salikhov 1 of 10 10% 1 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 8 0 of 2 0 of 0
André Fialho 8 of 16 50% 5 of 11 3 of 5 0 of 0 8 of 15 0 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Andre Fialho vs. Muslim Salikhov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Fialho (-110), Salikhov (-110)

Round 1
Striker faces striker in what has slotted itself in the “featured fight of the night” spot, although their approaches could scarcely be more different even if the end result is the same. The heavy-handed Portugal native Fialho (16-5, 1 NC; 2-2 UFC) will throw down with a spinning specialist nicknamed “King of Kung Fu” in Salikhov (18-3, 5-2 UFC), and referee Chris Tognoni will have his hands full here. The respect is ample with a clap of hands to begin the scheduled melee, and Salikhov strikes first with a calf kick. Fialho responds with two. A front kick from the Dagestan native pushes Fialho back as Fialho delivers a third kick to the lead leg. Fialho gets his balance and leaps forward with a left hook, but it hits the guard of his opponent. Fialho looks to sweep the leg, and Salikhov responds with his own low kick. A left hand from Salikhov splits the guard, and he sits down on a loud low kick to follow. The tense striking match largely consists of single-shot offerings, and Salikhov spins with a wheel kick but misses the mark. Fialho slips a winging right hand and drives Salikhov back with a straight left hand, and he finds the mark with an uppercut shortly thereafter. Salikhov absorbs a right hand and spins with a back kick, and he surprisingly grabs hold of Fialho’s leg and drags him down to the floor. Salikhov wades into the closed guard of his opponent, and Fialho defends with hacking elbows off his back. The fighter from Portugal defends himself from danger as he swats at Salikhov while on his back, and he jumps up and absorbs a spinning back kick right to the midsection. Fialho drives a right hand into the eye socket, and Salikhov blinks it out and swelling develops quickly. Fialho blasts him with an uppercut, with Salikhov grabbing hold of his foe and ramming a few knees to the midsection to slow Fialho down. Fialho settles for a clinch as he gets his back turned to the wall, and he frees himself right as the horn blares.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fialho
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Fialho

Round 2
The gloves are touched to start off the second round, and within seconds, Salikhov bull-rushes forward to get a body lock and attempt a takedown. Fialho turns around and protects against a subsequent single, and this too fails from the Russian. Fialho lands a right hand on the break, but Salikhov replies with a kick to the liver. A left hand wraps around the guard of the Portugal native, and Salikhov gets on his bike and takes potshots of front kicks and reaching punches. Fialho prepares himself to take a flush spinning back kick as he plods forward, with his offense falling off a cliff while Salikhov is still swinging for the fences. Salikhov jabs the body and stays light on his feet, and Fialho returns fire with a jab and a low kick. “King of Kung Fu” spins with a back fist that pounds into the side of the head, and Fialho wobbles and takes a clean spinning wheel kick on the neck as well. Fialho bites down on his mouthpiece and throws hammers, leading to Salikhov clinching him up and pursuing some form of takedown. Fialho takes several punches on the chin as he slowly walks forward, still offensively muted as Salikhov picks and rips with single effective strikes. Salikhov is able to put a front kick on the body and a superman punch on the side of the head, and Fialho’s balance is shot as he swings so hard that he falls down to the ground. The Russian looks to finish the job by raining down a long series of powerful hammerfists, and Tognoni implores Fialho to fight back or show some signs of life. Salikhov slows down and makes sure not to fully gas himself out, and the damage on Fialho's face shows his nose is busted up and leaking crimson fluid on the mat. The ground strikes continue until the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Salikhov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Salikhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Salikhov

Round 3
The final round begins with an aggressive Fialho, who leaps forward to swing his fists at his opponent. Salikhov hops and springs away from the brunt of the damaging strikes, and he chambers and fires a high kick. Salikhov spins with a perfect spinning back kick to the body, and Fialho falls back against the wall but does not go down. He leans back and allows Salikhov to advance, and he might be playing possum as he suddenly springs to action with huge punches in response.
“King of Kung Fu” showcases his skills to the finest with a magnificent spinning wheel kick that smashes into the side of Fialho’s head, and Fialho clutches his head and is in a bad way. Tognoni thinks about intervening, but allows Salikhov to bludgeon Fialho with a couple more punches before stepping in for the standing TKO.
Fialho immediately protests the stoppage, but his body language before the finish was anything but positive as he was getting destroyed by the flashier striker. For the fifth time in his career, Salikhov has pulled off a finish with a spinning kick, with this one bigger than any he had registered in the past.

The Official Result
Muslim Salikhov def. Andre Fialho R3 1:03 via TKO (Spinning Wheel Kick and Punches)
LOSS vs Jake Matthews
KO (punches) R2 2:24 · UFC 275: Teixeira vs. Prochazka · Jun 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jake Matthews 0 18 of 51 35% 19 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
André Fialho 1 47 of 89 52% 47 of 89 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jake Matthews 0 12 of 38 31% 13 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
André Fialho 0 27 of 53 50% 27 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Jake Matthews 0 6 of 13 46% 6 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
André Fialho 1 20 of 36 55% 20 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jake Matthews 18 of 51 35% 13 of 44 1 of 3 4 of 4 18 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 2
André Fialho 47 of 89 52% 35 of 75 4 of 4 8 of 10 44 of 86 1 of 1 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jake Matthews 12 of 38 31% 8 of 33 0 of 1 4 of 4 12 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 2
André Fialho 27 of 53 50% 16 of 41 3 of 3 8 of 9 27 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Jake Matthews 6 of 13 46% 5 of 11 1 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
André Fialho 20 of 36 55% 19 of 34 1 of 1 0 of 1 17 of 33 1 of 1 2 of 2
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Andre Fialho vs. Jake Matthews
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Allen (-280), Malkoun (+225)

Round 1
Before losing the Rogerio Bontorin vs. Manel Kape pairing – Bontorin withdrew due to a botched weight cut that hospitalized him with kidney issues – this welterweight fight was slated to take place on the prelims. As such, Fialho (16-4, 1 NC; 2-1 UFC) and Matthews (17-5, 10-5 UFC) will be the benefactors of that unfortunate situation, slotting on the main card right before a rematch of one of the greatest fights of all time. Fialho has somehow quietly strung together two solid knockouts since mid-April, and a third win in 57 days, knockout or not, would smash the record for the quickest accumulation of three victories in the UFC’s modern era. Whether he can do it or get rebuffed, referee Jason Herzog will be the first to know. There is no glove touch, and Fialho begins to stalk Matthews down early on. Matthews stays on the outside with a few low kicks, and Fialho replies with a single jab. Matthews continues to move and work the lead calf with kicks, reddening and welting it up early. Fialho replies with one of his own, and he slips when Matthews throws a straight left hand at him. Matthews reaches Fialho with a swiping right hand, and he scores a few low kicks and wings a head kick over the top that clangs off the top of Fialho’s head. Matthews tries to pre-emptively counter Fialho on the way in, and Fialho is stuck guessing and not able to pull the trigger. Matthews kicks the leg to solid success, and a left hand to follow is flipped out to decent effect. Matthews just brushes the side of the head with a wide right hand, and Fialho wades into the fray and gets clipped with a right hook. Matthews slides past his man, and he gets touched with a right hand that backs him up to the wall. Fialho crowds Matthews, and they both smash one another on the jaw with clean punches, and it is Fialho that has to back off and gather his thoughts. Matthews jumps forward with a front kick to the body, and he checks a low kick that zips at his calf. Fialho strikes with his shin on Matthews’ lead leg, and he tags his foe with crisp punches. They nail one another with heavy blows, and Matthews lands clean and makes Fialho back up. With seconds to spare, Fialho drills Matthews with a single punch, and Matthews’ legs give way seconds later in a delayed reaction. Matthews falls to his back, threatening with a submission off his back, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Matthews

Round 2
Fialho begins the second round confidently, marching Matthews down while chambering a right hand. Matthews tries to keep his distance with long jabs, and he gets off a shovel uppercut that hurts Fialho. Matthews cracks his man with a right hand, and he gives chase with an uppercut that buckles Fialho. The man from Portugal does not go down, but he is still on baby deer legs, and he manages to swing wide enough to make Matthews think twice. Fialho gets nipped with a right and an uppercut, and he darts back and bounces off the wall while Matthews is feeling himself. Matthews goes up high with a kick, and it slaps off the high guard. Matthews rings Fialho’s bell with a straight right hand over the top, and Fialho appears to have gathered himself right until Matthews cracks him with another right. Fialho backpedals and loads up on everything he has, sensing he might be in trouble and needs to get Matthews to respect his power. Matthews does not let him off the hook, eating a few shots and firing back harder, with his furious fists crashing into Fialho’s dome. “The Celtic Kid” scores a clean left hand that wobbles Fialho, and he chains punches to the body and the head until Fialho is on the ropes. The Aussie unleashes a fury with one final combination, separating Fialho from his senses and putting him down to the mat for good. Herzog recognizes that there is no more fight left in the ferocious Fialho, and he steps in to save Fialho from further punishment. Matthews puts himself back on the map with that performance, outslugging an exceedingly dangerous striker and beating the power puncher at his own game.

The Official Result
Jake Matthews def. Andre Fialho R2 2:24 via KO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jun 5, 2022 (7 days before fight)
André Fialho

Angelo picks Fialho despite his own gut feeling, citing Fialho's activity and recent knockout streak. He notes Fialho is hittable but believes Matthews' poor fight IQ will lead him to strike instead of wrestle. He acknowledges if Matthews wrestles, he could win, but he trusts Fialho's momentum.

"i'm going fiallo i'm going against my gut on this one again i might change my mind post weigh-ins but i gotta go with fiallo here he's been more active he's shown how deadly he is"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Big Brady picks Jake Matthews as an underdog, expecting him to survive Fialho's early power and take over as the fight progresses. He notes that Fialho has poor cardio and is hittable, while Matthews is well-rounded with solid wrestling and cardio. He predicts a decision win for Matthews, barring a first-round knockout from Fialho.

"I'm gonna take Jake Matthews for the decision upset here so give me Jake Matthews for the win give me Jake Matthews to survive the early storm not getting knocked out and get that decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Cody picks Matthews as a live underdog, citing Fialho's untested grappling and Matthews' improved striking and size at 170. He thinks Matthews can take Fialho down and control him, and notes Fialho's losses have come against grapplers. He is wary of Matthews' history but sees value.

"live underdog here plus 120 jake matthews... i think he's just got to get in there and get those takedowns"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
André Fialho

Daniel Levi picks André Fialho, citing Jake Matthews' history of being broken in fights and his poor training situation with his dad. He believes Fialho has the left hook to knock Matthews out, as Matthews leaves openings. He notes that Matthews has been finished multiple times and that Fialho has overcome adversity. He is not crazy about the price but sees Fialho winning, possibly by knockout.

Fialho by KO
"I think free audio actually comes out here and is not the first man to stop him but the first man to knock him out"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lock picked Jun 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Matthews is the better grappler and has never been knocked out; his only TKO loss was due to grappling. Fialho is on a hot streak but his wins are over fighters with questionable chins. Matthews has the experience and the grappling to neutralize Fialho's power. The line is inflated due to recency bias. I'm all in on Matthews, and the submission prop at +900 is egregious value.

Matthews by submission (+900), Matthews inside distance (+450)
"I am all in on jake matthews here like this is i think like i personally right now i have two units on my plus 140."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Paul also leans Matthews, agreeing that Fialho's grappling is unproven. He notes Matthews' improvements and thinks he can grind out a win. He acknowledges Matthews' past inconsistencies but sees this as a good spot.

"i'll side with you... dogger pass we'll go with jake matthews"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
André Fialho

The MMA Guru picks André Fialho to win by late second-round TKO. He argues that Fialho's activity (fourth fight this year) and pressure will be key against Jake Matthews, who has been out for over a year. He believes Matthews is a good all-rounder but doesn't excel in any area, and that Fialho's scrappy style will overwhelm him. He notes that Matthews was wobbled by Emil Meek, and Fialho is a better finisher. He expects Matthews to win the first round but Fialho to take over in the second.

late second round tko
"i'm gonna go with andre fiaoho here i am and i'm gonna pick him by late second round tko"
KO (punch) R1 2:35 · UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
André Fialho 1 17 of 24 70% 17 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Cameron VanCamp 0 19 of 31 61% 19 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 André Fialho 1 17 of 24 70% 17 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Cameron VanCamp 0 19 of 31 61% 19 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
André Fialho 17 of 24 70% 12 of 19 2 of 2 3 of 3 16 of 23 0 of 0 1 of 1
Cameron VanCamp 19 of 31 61% 9 of 19 4 of 6 6 of 6 19 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 André Fialho 17 of 24 70% 12 of 19 2 of 2 3 of 3 16 of 23 0 of 0 1 of 1
Cameron VanCamp 19 of 31 61% 9 of 19 4 of 6 6 of 6 19 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
André Fialho

Big Brady picks André Fialho to win by first-round knockout. He believes this is a massive mismatch, as VanCamp is stepping up in competition and Fialho has fought tougher opponents. Fialho has excellent takedown defense and devastating power, as shown in his knockout of Miguel Baeza. VanCamp will want to take the fight down but will struggle to do so. Brady expects Fialho to starch VanCamp in the first round, noting that Fialho's power is some of the best in the division.

first round knockout
"I think fiola knocks out van camp in the very first round you know maybe if fan cam's able to get it down to the mat if he's able to extend the fight you know fiolo does slow down as …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
André Fialho

Cody picks André Fialho, noting that VanCamp has fought low-level competition and is hittable. Fialho is a power puncher who has improved his chin and cardio. Cody points out that Fialho knocked out Miguel Baeza and is still young (28). He expects Fialho to clip VanCamp and finish him, though the price is high.

"i would think fiolo just absolutely kills van camp"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked May 5, 2022 (2 days before fight)
André Fialho

Daniel Levi picks André Fialho confidently, expecting a first-round knockout. He notes Fialho's power and activity, and that VanCamp is a low-level regional fighter who does not belong at UFC level. He thinks Fialho will cover the -400 price tag. He does not bet due to the high price but is confident in the pick.

Daniel does not bet this fight. He mentions Fialho by KO but no bet.
"I think Fialho is going to come out here pick his shots put this guy away barring some kind of epic stunt so give me Fialho to come out here and cover that price tag."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked May 6, 2022 (1 day before fight)
André Fialho

The host picks Fialho to win by first-round knockout but is hesitant due to Fialho's poor performance in longer fights. He notes VanCamp's all-action style and submission threat. He thinks the line is too wide but still expects Fialho to land early. His favorite bet is 'fight doesn't go to decision' at -300, citing both fighters' high finish rates (30 of 39 fights finished inside distance). He also mentions a possible VanCamp submission prop if plus money.

fight doesn't go to decision at -300; VanCamp submission if better than +700
"i am going to still pick fiallo to win to potentially land that first round knockout and get the win but the spot that i like the most is the fight doesn't go to decision at -300"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
André Fialho

Paul picks André Fialho, agreeing with Cody that Fialho should win. He notes that VanCamp is making his UFC debut against a power puncher and has defensive liabilities. Paul believes Fialho's power and experience will be too much, and that VanCamp's head movement is poor. He expects a Fialho knockout.

"i'm not gonna disagree with you whatsoever"
WIN vs Miguel Baeza
TKO (punches) R1 4:39 · UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. Muhammad 2 · Apr 16, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
André Fialho 0 24 of 58 41% 24 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Miguel Baeza 1 32 of 56 57% 32 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 André Fialho 0 24 of 58 41% 24 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Miguel Baeza 1 32 of 56 57% 32 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
André Fialho 24 of 58 41% 15 of 48 4 of 4 5 of 6 24 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
Miguel Baeza 32 of 56 57% 19 of 41 5 of 7 8 of 8 25 of 49 5 of 5 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 André Fialho 24 of 58 41% 15 of 48 4 of 4 5 of 6 24 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
Miguel Baeza 32 of 56 57% 19 of 41 5 of 7 8 of 8 25 of 49 5 of 5 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 10, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Miguel Baeza

Angelo picks Miguel Baeza, citing his more technical striking and fantastic grappling. He notes that Baeza has good fight IQ and uses kicks well to wear down opponents. He acknowledges Baeza's chin issues but believes his technical edge will be the difference. He warns that Baeza needs to avoid Fialho's power.

"i do think baeza's more technical striking and fantastic grappling will be the difference here so baez is the pick but he needs to avoid the big power of philo in this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Miguel Baeza

Big Brady picks Miguel Baeza to win by decision. He cites Baeza's speed, volume, cardio, and BJJ black belt as advantages. He notes that Fialho has power but is hittable, low-volume, and fades as the fight goes on. Brady expects Baeza to outpoint Fialho over three rounds, though he acknowledges Fialho's puncher's chance.

win by decision
"i got to go by aza i think he's going to be the clear minute winner here throwing more better cardio especially i'm gonna take buys it to win i'm gonna take them to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 12, 2022 (4 days before fight)
André Fialho

Cody leans towards Fialho, noting his improved striking at Sanford MMA and his power. He thinks Fialho can clip Baeza, who has shown durability issues in prolonged striking battles. However, he lacks high confidence, especially if the fight extends into later rounds.

"i would lean towards fiallo but it's not like there's a ton of confidence"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Apr 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Miguel Baeza

Daniel Levi leans Miguel Baeza but is hesitant due to Baeza's confidence after two losses, including a KO. He notes Baeza's calf kicks, range, and jiu-jitsu black belt, but worries about his mental state and whether he will be hesitant early. Fialho is dangerous early with power and aggression, but Levi expects Baeza to take over as the fight progresses if he survives the initial onslaught. He is not willing to lay the -185 price.

Not laying the chalk on Baeza; mentions Fialho's early power and Baeza's potential hesitation
"I lean by aza but I am not going to be laying the chalk on baeza in this spot."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Apr 12, 2022 (4 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick, calling it a 'dogger pass'. He notes both fighters have power and chin issues, and expects a striking battle that may not go the distance. He mentions the under 1.5 rounds and fight doesn't go to decision as potential props.

under 1.5 rounds, fight doesn't go to decision
"dogger pass and i'm thinking fight doesn't go the distance"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2022 (5 days before fight)
André Fialho

The MMA Guru picks André Fialho by first-round KO. He criticizes Miguel Baeza's chin and notes his recent KO loss to Khaos Williams. He believes Fialho's training at Sanford MMA and full camp will lead to an early finish, as Baeza may be hesitant after his last KO.

first round KO
"andre fiojo gets this one done first round ko"
LOSS vs Michel Pereira
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane · Jan 22, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michel Pereira 0 107 of 202 52% 112 of 209 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:44
André Fialho 0 45 of 135 33% 48 of 138 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:45
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michel Pereira 0 17 of 43 39% 17 of 45 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
André Fialho 0 12 of 41 29% 12 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
2 Michel Pereira 0 47 of 81 58% 51 of 85 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:44
André Fialho 0 16 of 29 55% 16 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
3 Michel Pereira 0 43 of 78 55% 44 of 79 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
André Fialho 0 17 of 65 26% 20 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:20
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michel Pereira 107 of 202 52% 49 of 122 44 of 66 14 of 14 96 of 188 11 of 14 0 of 0
André Fialho 45 of 135 33% 40 of 128 5 of 7 0 of 0 36 of 122 7 of 7 2 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michel Pereira 17 of 43 39% 4 of 24 11 of 17 2 of 2 17 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
André Fialho 12 of 41 29% 12 of 40 0 of 1 0 of 0 10 of 35 0 of 0 2 of 6
2 Michel Pereira 47 of 81 58% 18 of 47 23 of 28 6 of 6 37 of 68 10 of 13 0 of 0
André Fialho 16 of 29 55% 13 of 25 3 of 4 0 of 0 10 of 23 6 of 6 0 of 0
3 Michel Pereira 43 of 78 55% 27 of 51 10 of 21 6 of 6 42 of 77 1 of 1 0 of 0
André Fialho 17 of 65 26% 15 of 63 2 of 2 0 of 0 16 of 64 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Andre Fialho vs. Michel Pereira

Round 1
All bets are off for what should be an absolutely wild welterweight rumble as “Demolidor” Pereira (26-11, 2 NC; 4-2 UFC) greets the UFC newcomer Fialho (14-3, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC) with a giant smile on his face. Before he even arrives to the cage, Pereira gets the Anaheim crowd going by dancing in to his walkout music, sporting American and Brazilian flags over his shoulder. The wild man does a cartwheel into a back flip once he makes it past the Octagon door, but he holds off on the breakdancing as referee Mike Beltran watches on. They gladly touch gloves before engaging, and Fialho decides to hit the ground running with a short surge of punches and even a spinning wheel kick that misses as Pereira backs off. The Brazilian stabs a front kick to the midsection, and he has a subsequent head kick blocked. Fialho does not keep his foot off the gas as he pressures Pereira back, until Pereira partially connects with a superman punch off the cage in a Pettis-esque maneuver. Fialho continues to march Pereira down, and he absorbs another front kick to the lower body as he plods ahead. Pereira swats at him with punches and gets off another front kick, but Fialho’s expression and forward movement does not wane one bit. A sharp jab from the newcomer stumbles Pereira for a moment, but the “Demolidor” gathers his thoughts and circles away. Fialho connects with another clean jab that disrupts Pereira’s movement, but Pereira fires back with a body shot and a right hand over the top. Pereira rips the body with another kick to the same spot as the others, and he chops at his foe’s thigh with a kick. Fialho keeps flicking out his jab, leading Pereira to wind up with a right hand that just brushes off Fialho’s chin. Fialho fakes his way in, using the disruptive movement to get Pereira to bite on a feint and drops his guard enough to get cracked right on the jaw. Pereira is hurt and his nose begins to bleed from the damage, and he lands a few more strikes to Pereira’s chagrin. “Demolidor” jumps in the air with a knee, and Fialho does not bite or allow himself to get struck with it. Fialho stays composed, blocking the wild strikes but still absorbing kicks to the midsection. Pereira ducks into a big punch, and he shoots in low for a takedown that is easily sprawled. Fialho continues to batter Pereira with a jab, and Pereira returns fire with a kick that glances off the cup. Beltran does not pause the action, and lets them continue. Fialho keeps pressing in with jabs, and he steps out of the way from a flying knee to bowl Pereira over and push him down to the ground. From on top, Fialho hammers down with long punches until the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fialho
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Fialho
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fialho

Round 2
The welterweights resume fighting once Beltran clocks them in, and Fialho continues his consistent pressure early. Pereira finds his home with a right hand, and a left opens a cut on Fialho. Pereira finds his range and rocks the newcomer with a huge right hook, and Fialho wobbles back to the cage as Pereira soars at him with a flying knee. Pereira tries to empty his gas tank with a few more wild strikes, pummeling a shelled up Fialho. Fialho manages to survive the assault and back away, and when he retreats, Pereira gives chase and scores with a rolling thunder kick to the dome. Fialho acknowledges the blow and blocks as Pereira continues to try to lay into him with powerful strikes. Pereira rips the body and head, bullying Fialho into the fence on the other side of the cage. From up close, Pereira smashes Fialho in the torso with a few flush knees, and Fialho gives them back to stop Pereira from delivering them to him. The pace slows as both men likely need to take a breath after throwing wildly, and Pereira backs away before swinging a capoeira kick that goes just a little too high. Fialho has a cut above his left eye that is bleeding down into it, and as he advances, Pereira targets the breadbasket with a front kick. Fialho closes the distance to shut the kicks down, and Pereira greets him with several knees to the body. Fialho grits his teeth and pushes off, and the two swing wildly in single-strike attacks. “Demolidor” chains together a front kick into a right hook, a left hook and a left high kick that follows. Fialho starts to take deep breaths from the body work that Pereira is doing, and he takes a right hand to the face and a left to the body. As Fialho attempts to reply, Pereira shoots in with a double that scoops Fialho off the ground and on to the mat. As the fighter out of Portugal climbs back to his knees, the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pereira

Round 3
The two gunslingers hug it out to start off the final round, and when they break up, Pereira kicks the body with gravitas. Fialho gives chase, and he gets clipped with a crisp one-two. Pereira stays out of range with a low kick, and he backs into the wall to unleash another rebounding superman punch, but Fialho sees it coming and is out of range in time. Pereira lets go with a kick to the body, and Fialho avoids it enough to land a pair of punches up top. Pereira escapes as he circles away, and he chips at Fialho’s midsection with several more kicks. Fialho is content to absorb the blows one after the other, with Pereira mixing them up to the leg as he continues to hurl them. Fialho gets stunned by a body kick, which allows Pereira to tag him with a three-punch salvo. Pereira hits a trip takedown as he pushes forward, but Fialho is able to get his bearings and get upright before anything comes of it. Fialho presses forward, throwing out his jab a few times before tying the Brazilian up in the clinch. Pereira pushes off so that he can prod and poke with kicks, and he ducks a left hand from Fialho to go over the top with a left hook. They land punches at the same time, and Fialho gets Pereira’s attention with a left. Pereira throws right back, and the two brawl it out, seemingly taking turns clubbing one another in the face. Pereira ducks right into a punch, and he shrugs it off to fire back. Fialho carries on moving forward, and Pereira leaps off the fence and then kicks Fialho in the chest. They swipe at one another, and Pereira hops around, still light on his feet while Fialho consistently moves towards him. Fialho snaps out a jab, and Pereira winds up on a couple punches that Fialho is largely able to slip. As Pereira lines up a kick to the body, his foot hits the cup as his toes stab into the midsection, and Fialho doubles over in pain from the groin strike. Beltran recognizes this instantly and pauses the fight, allowing Fialho to recover. The newcomer from Portugal takes less than a minute to get his breath, and then pushes forward while Pereira escapes laterally. Fialho catches Pereira in the air with a jumping strike, but Pereira is no worse for wear as he hits the ground. With seconds left on the clock, they both decide that it is time to throw down like Max Holloway and Ricardo Lamas. The ensuing melee is wild and ferocious, with both 170ers connecting cleanly and not wilting. They swing for the fences right to the final bell, and then celebrate their hard-fought battle as Pereira lifts Fialho’s arm in the air.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pereira (29-28 Pereira)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pereira (29-28 Pereira)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pereira (29-28 Pereira)

The Official Result
Michel Pereira def. Andre Fialho via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Angelo picks Michel Pereira, citing his speed, athleticism, and improved cardio. He notes Fialho's lack of head movement and tendency to throw one strike at a time, which Pereira can exploit. However, he acknowledges Fialho's real power and durability, making him dangerous late in the fight.

"i like michelle pajada in this fight short notice aside i love paja's speed and athleticism i think andre's lack of head movement will get him into some trouble here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 18, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Big Brady picks Michel Pereira to win by decision, citing Pereira's massive volume, speed, and cardio advantages over Fialho. He notes that Fialho is powerful but low volume, slow, and takes fights on short notice. Pereira is durable (only one KO loss in 37 fights) and has solid wrestling and BJJ as alternate paths. He acknowledges Fialho's power but believes it's a bad matchup for him.

Pereira by decision; mentions Fialho's power and short notice
"give me michelle pereira to win i'm going to take him to win by the decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 19, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Cody picks Michel Pereira, stating that Pereira is leveled above Fialho in striking and that Fialho's game falls apart if he doesn't finish early. He notes that Fialho has been released by Bellator and PFL, and that his cardio and defensive striking are poor. Cody warns that Pereira can be reckless and may get disqualified, but believes Pereira's speed, durability, and power will prevail. He also mentions that Pereira has shown improved cardio in recent decisions.

"The pick has got to be for Michel Pereira and just a tough debut for Andre Fialho all around."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jan 20, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Daniel Levi leans toward Michel Pereira but calls it a dog-or-pass situation. He acknowledges Fialho's momentum and power but believes Pereira's athleticism, discipline at 170, and recent improvements make him the pick. Levi notes that Pereira has faced hard hitters before and that Fialho's competition hasn't been at the same level. He expects Pereira to land a big knee or straight right and finish Fialho.

Pereira by KO/TKO
"eileen pereira but honestly i think it actually might be a dog or pass situation um here so my pick is pereira but i wouldn't sleep on fiaglio man"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 18, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The host sees this as a perfect stylistic matchup for Pereira, who will stay on the outside and avoid Fiallo's preferred boxing range. He notes that Fiallo struggles when opponents dictate the pace and that Pereira's movement and the larger cage will benefit him. He expects Pereira to touch Fiallo up and possibly knock him out, predicting a second-round KO.

Pereira inside the distance, Pereira by KO round 2
"i'm going pereira i'll actually take him to win this fight inside the distance uh i'm going to say knockout let's call it second round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Jan 19, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Paul picks Michel Pereira but is hesitant due to Pereira's tendency to do reckless things like backflips that could lead to disqualification. He notes that Pereira's cardio is questionable and that he gassed against Niko Price. However, Paul acknowledges that Fialho is not a high-level opponent and that Pereira should win if he fights smart. He advises being careful with the bet.

"I'm picking Michel Pereira but be very very careful because this guy is a walking disqualification if there ever was one."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The MMA Guru picks Michel Pereira, predicting a first-round KO via flying knee. He notes Fialho's power and training at Sanford MMA but believes Fialho's short-notice aggression will leave him open. He compares the matchup to Pereira's win over Chaos Williams, expecting Pereira to land a big shot on the advancing Fialho.

first round ko with a flying knee
"i'm going to go with mikhail page here over andre feel how and i'm actually going to pick him by first round ko with a knee like a flying knee"
Expert Picks (7)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Angelo picks Michel Pereira, citing his speed, athleticism, and improved cardio. He notes Fialho's lack of head movement and tendency to throw one strike at a time, which Pereira can exploit. However, he acknowledges Fialho's real power and durability, making him dangerous late in the fight.

"i like michelle pajada in this fight short notice aside i love paja's speed and athleticism i think andre's lack of head movement will get him into some trouble here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 18, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Big Brady picks Michel Pereira to win by decision, citing Pereira's massive volume, speed, and cardio advantages over Fialho. He notes that Fialho is powerful but low volume, slow, and takes fights on short notice. Pereira is durable (only one KO loss in 37 fights) and has solid wrestling and BJJ as alternate paths. He acknowledges Fialho's power but believes it's a bad matchup for him.

Pereira by decision; mentions Fialho's power and short notice
"give me michelle pereira to win i'm going to take him to win by the decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 19, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Cody picks Michel Pereira, stating that Pereira is leveled above Fialho in striking and that Fialho's game falls apart if he doesn't finish early. He notes that Fialho has been released by Bellator and PFL, and that his cardio and defensive striking are poor. Cody warns that Pereira can be reckless and may get disqualified, but believes Pereira's speed, durability, and power will prevail. He also mentions that Pereira has shown improved cardio in recent decisions.

"The pick has got to be for Michel Pereira and just a tough debut for Andre Fialho all around."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jan 20, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Daniel Levi leans toward Michel Pereira but calls it a dog-or-pass situation. He acknowledges Fialho's momentum and power but believes Pereira's athleticism, discipline at 170, and recent improvements make him the pick. Levi notes that Pereira has faced hard hitters before and that Fialho's competition hasn't been at the same level. He expects Pereira to land a big knee or straight right and finish Fialho.

Pereira by KO/TKO
"eileen pereira but honestly i think it actually might be a dog or pass situation um here so my pick is pereira but i wouldn't sleep on fiaglio man"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 18, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The host sees this as a perfect stylistic matchup for Pereira, who will stay on the outside and avoid Fiallo's preferred boxing range. He notes that Fiallo struggles when opponents dictate the pace and that Pereira's movement and the larger cage will benefit him. He expects Pereira to touch Fiallo up and possibly knock him out, predicting a second-round KO.

Pereira inside the distance, Pereira by KO round 2
"i'm going pereira i'll actually take him to win this fight inside the distance uh i'm going to say knockout let's call it second round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Jan 19, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Paul picks Michel Pereira but is hesitant due to Pereira's tendency to do reckless things like backflips that could lead to disqualification. He notes that Pereira's cardio is questionable and that he gassed against Niko Price. However, Paul acknowledges that Fialho is not a high-level opponent and that Pereira should win if he fights smart. He advises being careful with the bet.

"I'm picking Michel Pereira but be very very careful because this guy is a walking disqualification if there ever was one."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The MMA Guru picks Michel Pereira, predicting a first-round KO via flying knee. He notes Fialho's power and training at Sanford MMA but believes Fialho's short-notice aggression will leave him open. He compares the matchup to Pereira's win over Chaos Williams, expecting Pereira to land a big shot on the advancing Fialho.

first round ko with a flying knee
"i'm going to go with mikhail page here over andre feel how and i'm actually going to pick him by first round ko with a knee like a flying knee"