UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai · Sep 05, 2020 · Welterweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai Next Fight
Age 32
Height 6' 1"
Reach 73.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 31
Height 6' 0"
Reach 76.0"
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 - Zelim Imadaev
2.91 SLpM
36.0% Str. Acc.
4.35 SApM
43.0% Str. Def.
0.38 TD Avg
50.0% TD Acc.
60.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Michel Pereira - Fight History
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
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."
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."
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
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
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
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
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"
Zelim Imadaev - Fight History
LOSS vs Michel Pereira
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 4:39 · UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai · Sep 05, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michel Pereira 0 88 of 153 57% 88 of 154 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:11
Zelim Imadaev 0 23 of 90 25% 24 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michel Pereira 0 21 of 39 53% 21 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Zelim Imadaev 0 6 of 20 30% 6 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Michel Pereira 0 28 of 53 52% 28 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Zelim Imadaev 0 10 of 39 25% 10 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
3 Michel Pereira 0 39 of 61 63% 39 of 62 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:11
Zelim Imadaev 0 7 of 31 22% 8 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michel Pereira 88 of 153 57% 39 of 95 38 of 45 11 of 13 82 of 145 6 of 8 0 of 0
Zelim Imadaev 23 of 90 25% 10 of 73 6 of 10 7 of 7 22 of 86 1 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michel Pereira 21 of 39 53% 10 of 23 10 of 13 1 of 3 20 of 37 1 of 2 0 of 0
Zelim Imadaev 6 of 20 30% 1 of 15 2 of 2 3 of 3 6 of 19 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Michel Pereira 28 of 53 52% 12 of 34 11 of 14 5 of 5 26 of 50 2 of 3 0 of 0
Zelim Imadaev 10 of 39 25% 6 of 33 3 of 5 1 of 1 9 of 36 1 of 3 0 of 0
3 Michel Pereira 39 of 61 63% 17 of 38 17 of 18 5 of 5 36 of 58 3 of 3 0 of 0
Zelim Imadaev 7 of 31 22% 3 of 25 1 of 3 3 of 3 7 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Sep 2, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Big Brady picks Pereira despite past inconsistency, noting he looked composed against Diego Sanchez. He thinks Pereira is more durable and has shown progression. He is not impressed with Imadaev. However, he warns this is a stay-away fight for betting because Pereira cannot be trusted.

Pereira by knockout, second round; stay away fight
"give me michelle pereira this is not a fight you want to bet by any means this is probably one of the biggest stay away fights of the year"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Zelim Imadaev

Daniel Levi picks Zelim Imadaev by first-round knockout. He believes Imadaev has better hands and forward pressure, and that Pereira is unreliable despite his athleticism. Levi notes that Imadaev showed improvement in his last fight before getting knocked out, and that Pereira's cardio and discipline are questionable. He expects Imadaev to walk Pereira down and finish him early.

Imadaev by KO in round 1
"i'm gonna go with lima madaya by first round knockout"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Sep 3, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Zelim Imadaev

The host is very uncertain but leans toward Imadaev by second-round TKO. He thinks Imadaev may have a slight cardio advantage and more variety in his MMA game. He calls the fight 'complete chaos' and advises caution.

"i'll go with him a dive probably to win this fight by second round tko"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The MMA Guru picks Michel Pereira, noting that Zelim Imadaev is coming off a KO loss and has a weak resume outside the UFC. He praises Pereira's patience shown in the Diego Sanchez fight and believes he will KO Imadaev in the first round. He mentions the odds have closed to evens, making the pick more palatable.

first round ko
"i'm going with michael payer getting it done early"
LOSS vs Danny Roberts
KO (punch) R2 4:54 · UFC Fight Night: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar · Nov 09, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Danny Roberts 0 28 of 71 39% 38 of 84 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:31
Zelim Imadaev 1 37 of 61 60% 42 of 68 1 of 8 12% 0 0 2:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Danny Roberts 0 15 of 42 35% 18 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:01
Zelim Imadaev 0 18 of 28 64% 21 of 31 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:41
2 Danny Roberts 0 13 of 29 44% 20 of 36 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:30
Zelim Imadaev 1 19 of 33 57% 21 of 37 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Danny Roberts 28 of 71 39% 15 of 54 10 of 12 3 of 5 19 of 58 9 of 11 0 of 2
Zelim Imadaev 37 of 61 60% 10 of 34 17 of 17 10 of 10 18 of 40 19 of 21 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Danny Roberts 15 of 42 35% 8 of 31 5 of 7 2 of 4 10 of 35 5 of 7 0 of 0
Zelim Imadaev 18 of 28 64% 4 of 14 7 of 7 7 of 7 11 of 21 7 of 7 0 of 0
2 Danny Roberts 13 of 29 44% 7 of 23 5 of 5 1 of 1 9 of 23 4 of 4 0 of 2
Zelim Imadaev 19 of 33 57% 6 of 20 10 of 10 3 of 3 7 of 19 12 of 14 0 of 0
LOSS vs Max Griffin
Decision (majority) (29–27, 29–27, 28–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 236: Holloway vs. Poirier 2 · Apr 13, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Max Griffin 0 47 of 92 51% 72 of 121 6 of 11 54% 3 0 4:59
Zelim Imadaev 0 64 of 150 42% 78 of 165 0 of 1 0% 0 0 3:26
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Max Griffin 0 12 of 17 70% 21 of 28 3 of 4 75% 3 0 2:33
Zelim Imadaev 0 12 of 26 46% 22 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:14
2 Max Griffin 0 14 of 33 42% 24 of 44 2 of 6 33% 0 0 1:27
Zelim Imadaev 0 25 of 58 43% 28 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:07
3 Max Griffin 0 21 of 42 50% 27 of 49 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:59
Zelim Imadaev 0 27 of 66 40% 28 of 67 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Max Griffin 47 of 92 51% 23 of 65 16 of 19 8 of 8 34 of 71 11 of 18 2 of 3
Zelim Imadaev 64 of 150 42% 46 of 120 12 of 22 6 of 8 47 of 126 17 of 24 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Max Griffin 12 of 17 70% 7 of 11 4 of 5 1 of 1 8 of 10 4 of 7 0 of 0
Zelim Imadaev 12 of 26 46% 7 of 19 3 of 4 2 of 3 10 of 24 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Max Griffin 14 of 33 42% 8 of 26 4 of 5 2 of 2 8 of 24 6 of 9 0 of 0
Zelim Imadaev 25 of 58 43% 17 of 44 6 of 12 2 of 2 13 of 41 12 of 17 0 of 0
3 Max Griffin 21 of 42 50% 8 of 28 8 of 9 5 of 5 18 of 37 1 of 2 2 of 3
Zelim Imadaev 27 of 66 40% 22 of 57 3 of 6 2 of 3 24 of 61 3 of 5 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Max Griffin vs. Zelim Imadaev

Round 1
Up next is a welterweight bout between Max Griffin and Zelim Imadaev. The referee is George Allen. Griffin immediately tags Imadaev with a straight right. He clinches him up and takes him to the ground with a body lock takedown. Imadaev manages to scramble back up but grabs the fence to prevent another one. The referee calls time and takes a point away. Griffin clinches up and once again lands a body lock takedown. Griffin takes the back of Imadaev and is looking for a rear-naked choke. Griffin isn’t able to get his hooks in but is working on a neck crank. Imadaev is defending well but Griffin isn’t letting go of the neck crank. Imadaev grabs the fence to get out of it but the ref doesn’t see the fence grab this time. Imadaev gets back to his feet. He lands a spinning back elbow that rocks Griffin, and then a spinning wheel kick. Imadaev just misses landing another spinning back elbow. Griffin clinches up against the fence but Imadaev reverses him. He starts to land some hard knees to the thighs of Griffin, who is landing some hard knees of his own in the clinch. They break and Imadaev lands a hard low kick just before the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-8 Griffin
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Griffin
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-8 Griffin

Round 2
Round two begins. Griffin lands a straight right. Imadaev looks for a spinning back kick but Griffin changes levels and takes him to the ground with a double leg. Imadaev gets back to his feet but Griffin continues to press him against the cage. Imadaev reverses position. They break. Griffin lands another double leg takedown but Imadaev rolls and gets back to his feet. Griffin with a straight right. Imadaev lands a low kick. Left hook by Imadaev. He flails on a right hook and Griffin lands another double leg takedown. Imadaev immediately gets back to his feet. But once again Griffin is able to get Imadaev to the ground, and once again Imadaev stands back up. Griffin has done a good job getting these takedowns but isn’t doing anything with them. Imadaev lands a straight right and Griffin looks wobbly. Imadaev pushes Griffin against the fence and lands a hard knee to the body, and then a hard elbow. Griffin is absolutely exhausted and Imadaev lands another knee to the fact. Imadaev lands an uppercut to the chin and then a hard let hook. Another knee by Imadaev and the round is over.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Imadaev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Imadaev
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Griffin

Round 3
Round three begins. Imadaev walks forward and lands a left hook. He lands a straight right on Griffin’s chin and has him backed up against the fence. Imadaev starts teeing off but Griffin clinches him to avoid more punishment. Griffin is able to get another double leg takedown but Imadaev gets back to his feet. Griffin pushes Imadaev to the fence and then lands a couple hard knees to his body. Griffin sticks to Imadaev like glue but Imadaev reverses the position. Griffin lands another knee to the body from the clinch. The 10-second clapper rings. Imadaev with a hard uppercut and Griffin with a spinning back fist just before the fight concludes. Close fight, and the judges will decide it.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Griffin (29-27 Griffin)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Imadaev (28-28 Draw)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Imadaev (29-27 Griffin)

The Official Result
Max Griffin def. Zelim Imadaev via Majority Decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28)
Expert Picks (4)
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Sep 2, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Big Brady picks Pereira despite past inconsistency, noting he looked composed against Diego Sanchez. He thinks Pereira is more durable and has shown progression. He is not impressed with Imadaev. However, he warns this is a stay-away fight for betting because Pereira cannot be trusted.

Pereira by knockout, second round; stay away fight
"give me michelle pereira this is not a fight you want to bet by any means this is probably one of the biggest stay away fights of the year"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Zelim Imadaev

Daniel Levi picks Zelim Imadaev by first-round knockout. He believes Imadaev has better hands and forward pressure, and that Pereira is unreliable despite his athleticism. Levi notes that Imadaev showed improvement in his last fight before getting knocked out, and that Pereira's cardio and discipline are questionable. He expects Imadaev to walk Pereira down and finish him early.

Imadaev by KO in round 1
"i'm gonna go with lima madaya by first round knockout"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Sep 3, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Zelim Imadaev

The host is very uncertain but leans toward Imadaev by second-round TKO. He thinks Imadaev may have a slight cardio advantage and more variety in his MMA game. He calls the fight 'complete chaos' and advises caution.

"i'll go with him a dive probably to win this fight by second round tko"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

The MMA Guru picks Michel Pereira, noting that Zelim Imadaev is coming off a KO loss and has a weak resume outside the UFC. He praises Pereira's patience shown in the Diego Sanchez fight and believes he will KO Imadaev in the first round. He mentions the odds have closed to evens, making the pick more palatable.

first round ko
"i'm going with michael payer getting it done early"