Michel Pereira

Michel Fagner Lima Pereira (born 6 October 1993) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competed in the middleweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2011, he formerly competed for 300 Sparta, Akhmat Fight Club, Serbian Battle Championship, Jungle Fight, Xtreme Fighting Championships and Road Fighting Championship. He is a former Serbian Battle Championship welterweight champion.

Background Pereira was born in Tucumã, Pará, Brazil.

His next fight was a loss versus Junior de Oliveira with Iron Man CF. After a win against Caio Robson, Michel Pereira earned a contract with XFC. Fighting on the prelims of XFC International 7, Pereira faced Geraldo Coelho. Responding to his opponent's pressure with clinching and a takedown, Pereira ended the fight in the third round by way of a guillotine choke. His next fight was on the prelims of XFC International 9, during which he faced Cairo Rocha. With various techniques such as wheel kicks and flying knees, Michel earned a victory through a unanimous decision. These two victories gave him a main even fight against Carlston Harris, which Pereira lost through a unanimous decision.

Following this Pereira fought with various promotions during which he lost a decision against Abubakar Vagaev, Ismael de Jesus and Kurbanjiang Tuluosibake, while also netting wins against Stanley Barbosa by way of an arm triangle choke, as well decisions against Renato Gomes and Cristiano Estela Rios.

Serbian Battle Championship and Road FC

His 16–8 record earned him a chance to fight for the vacant SBC Welterweight Championship against Luka Strezoski at SBC 15 on 8 December 2017. Pereira won a majority decision. Pereira was scheduled to defend his SBC title against Laerte Costa at SBC 17 on 18 April 2018. He won the fight by a first-round rear naked choke submission.

Moving away from SBC, Pereira was scheduled to face Carlos Perira at Arena Fight 8 on 12 May 2018, in a 176 lbs catchweight bout. The fight ended in a no-contest, due to a cage malfunction.

His next fight was likewise a 176 lbs catchweight about, against Ryul Kim at HEAT 42 on 27 May 2018. The fight was Pereira's South Korean debut. Pereira won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Pereira was next scheduled to face Hea Jun Yang at Road FC 48. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Pereira remained on the South Korean circuit for his next fight, being scheduled to fight Batmunkh Burenzorig at HEAT 43 on 17 September 2018. Although he won the fight by a read-naked choke submission, the result was later overturned into a no-contest, due to Periera missing weight.

Pereira was scheduled to make his second SBC Middlweight title defense against Duško Todorović at SBC 19 on 1 December 2018. Todorović won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.

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

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Pereira's first fight in the UFC was scheduled for 18 May 2019 at UFC Fight Night 152 against Danny Roberts. Pereira utilized unorthodox striking techniques, including an attempted showtime kick, and superman punch, before winning the fight via knockout early in round one. Periera was awarded a Performance of the Night award.

Pereira's next fight was scheduled for UFC Fight Night 158 against Sergey Khandozhko. Sergey would face visa issues and was replaced by the Canadian Tristan Connelly. Pereira missed weight by 2 pounds. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. MMA Junkie would pick this fight as their "Upset of the Year". The fight was awarded a Fight of the Night award. for which Pereira was ineligible as he missed weight, which meant Pereira forfeited 30% of his purse, as well as his $50,000 share of the FOTN award

Pereira's third UFC opponent was Diego Sanchez whom he faced at UFC Fight Night 167 on 15 February 2020. Pereira dominated Sanchez for most of the fight but was disqualified for hitting Sanchez with an illegal knee while he was grounded.

Pereira faced Zelim Imadaev on 5 September 2020 at UFC Fight Night 176. There was controversy during the weigh-ins as Imadaev slapped Pereira in the face, and both had to be restrained by the event's staff. Pereira dominated the fight, and slapped Imadaev back several times, before winning the fight via submission in the third round. This win earned him a Performance of the Night award.

Pereira faced Khaos Williams on 19 December 2020 at UFC Fight Night 183. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Pereira faced Niko Price on 10 July 2021 at UFC 264. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Pereira was scheduled to face Muslim Salikhov on 15 January 2022 at UFC on ESPN 32. However, Salikhov withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and the bout was cancelled.

Pereira fought André Fialho on 22 January 2022 at UFC 270. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Pereira faced Santiago Ponzinibbio on 21 May 2022 at UFC Fight Night 206. He won the fight via split decision. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Pereira was scheduled to face Sean Brady on 25 March 2023, at UFC on ESPN 43. However, Brady pulled out in mid-February due to a torn groin and the bout was scrapped.

Pereira was scheduled to face Stephen Thompson on 29 July 2023 at UFC 291. However, at the weigh-ins, Pereira weighed at 174 pounds, 3 pounds over the non-title welterweight limit. As a result, the bout was scrapped.

After a 17-month layoff, Pereira was scheduled to return to the middleweight division, facing Marc-André Barriault on 14 October 2023, at UFC Fight Night 230. However, Barriault withdrew due to medical issues and was replaced by Andre Petroski. Pereira won the fight via technical knockout in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Pereira faced Michal Oleksiejczuk on 9 March 2024, at UFC 299. He won the bout by a rear-naked choke submission. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

Pereira was scheduled to face Makhmud Muradov on 4 May 2024, at UFC 301. However, Muradov withdrew due to an infection, and he was replaced by Ihor Potieria. He won the bout early in the bout via guillotine choke. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

It was briefly announced that Pereira would face Roman Dolidze on 8 June 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57. However, Pereira claimed he never signed any contracts for the fight and the bout fell through.

Pereira was scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez on 14 September 2024 at UFC 306. However, the bout was rescheduled to 19 October 2024 to serve as the main event at UFC Fight Night 245. He lost the fight by technical knockout as a result of significant control time and ground strikes in the fifth round.

Pereira faced Abusupiyan Magomedov on 26 April 2025 at UFC on ESPN 66. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Pereira was scheduled to face Marco Tulio on 23 August 2025 at UFC Fight Night 257. However, Tulio withdrew from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by two-time Cage Fury Middleweight Champion Kyle Daukaus. He lost the fight via knockout in round one.

Pereira faced Zachary Reese on 21 February 2026 at UFC Fight Night 267. He won the fight by split decision. 9 out of 13 media outlets scored the bout for Reese.

Pereira faced Sharabutdin Magomedov on 27 June 2026 at UFC Fight Night 280. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. After the fight, Pereira publicly complained about referee Herb Dean's failure to deduct a point from Magomedov despite twice pulling his hair after several warnings; if a point had been deducted from Magomedov, the fight would have been scored a draw. Pereira was released from the UFC after the fight, having been offered a one-fight contract to fight Magomedov.

On 14 July 2026, following his recent loss, it was reported that Pereira was removed from the UFC roster.

Championships and achievements

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (Five times)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Sharabutdin Magomedov Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres

Baku, Azerbaijan Win

Zachary Reese Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez

Houston, Texas, United States Loss

Kyle Daukaus KO (punches and elbows) UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang

Shanghai, China Loss

Abusupiyan Magomedov Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Anthony Hernandez TKO (elbows) UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Ihor Potieria Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 301

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Michał Oleksiejczuk Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 299

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Andre Petroski TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Santiago Ponzinibbio Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

André Fialho Decision (unanimous) UFC 270

Anaheim, California, United States Win

Niko Price Decision (unanimous) UFC 264

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Khaos Williams Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Zelim Imadaev Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Diego Sanchez DQ (illegal knee) UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2

Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Loss

Tristan Connelly Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Win

Danny Roberts KO (flying knee and punch) UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee

Rochester, New York, United States Win

Kim Sung-dae TKO (punches and knees) Road FC 052

Seoul, South Korea Win

Choi Won-jun KO (punch) Road FC 051

Seoul, South Korea Loss

Duško Todorović TKO (punches) Serbian Battle Championship 19

Novi Sad, Serbia NC

Batmunkh Burenzorig NC (missed weight) HEAT 43

Aichi, Japan Win

Yang Hea-jun TKO (knee and punches) Road FC 048

Wonju, South Korea Win

Kim Ryul TKO (punches) HEAT 42

Aichi, Japan NC

Carlos Perira NC (cage malfunction) Arena Fight 8

Redenção, Brazil Win

Laerte Costa Submission (rear-naked choke) Serbian Battle Championship 17

Odžaci, Serbia Win

Luka Strezoski Decision (majority) Serbian Battle Championship 15

Novi Sad, Serbia Loss

Kurbanjiang Tuluosibake Decision (unanimous) Kunlun Fight MMA 15

Alashan, China Win

Renato Gomes Submission (triangle choke) Taura MMA 1

Viamão, Brazil Win

Cristiano Estela Rios Decision (unanimous) Fusion FC 24

Lima, Peru Loss

Ismael de Jesus Decision (unanimous) Shooto Brasil 67

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Stanley Barbosa Submission (arm-triangle choke) Revelation FC 4

Belém, Brazil Loss

Abubakar Vagaev Decision (unanimous) Akhmat Fight Show 18

Grozny, Russia Loss

Carlston Harris Decision (unanimous) XFC International 12

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Cairo Rocha Decision (unanimous) XFC International 9

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Geraldo Coelho Submission (guillotine choke) XFC International 7

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Caio Robson Silva TKO (retirement) Arena Fight 6

Redenção, Brazil Loss

Zozimar de Oliveria Silva Jr. Submission (armbar) Iron Man MMA 18

Belém, Brazil Win

Alfredo Souza Decision (unanimous) Jungle Fight 65

Madre de Deus, Brazil Win

Silmar Nunes Submission (triangle choke) Tucumã Fighting Show 5

Tucumã, Brazil Win

Jaime Cordoba Decision (unanimous) 300 Sparta 4

Lima, Peru Win

Daziel Serafrim da Silva Jr. Decision (unanimous) The Green Fight: Paragominas

Paragominas, Brazil Win

Renato Puente Flores Submission (armbar) 300 Sparta 3

Lima, Peru Win

Reginaldo Ferreira Alves TKO (punches) Arena Sport Combat 1

Xinguara, Brazil Win

Franciney dos Santos Bessa TKO (doctor stoppage) Marajó Fight 5

Soure, Brazil Loss

Rubenilton Perreira Decision (unanimous) MMA Dragon Fighters 1

Ourilândia do Norte, Brazil Loss

Rubenilton Perreira Decision (unanimous) Tucumã Fighting Show 3

Tucumã, Brazil Loss

Bruno Leandro Soares Decision (unanimous) Colisão Top Fight

Tucumã, Brazil Win

Sivaldo Alves da Silva Decision (unanimous) Tucumã Fighting Show 2

Tucumã, Brazil Win

Magno Silva TKO (punches) Tucumã Fighting Show 1

Tucumã, Brazil Win

Edson Dias TKO (punches) Dragon Fight Championship 6

Ourilândia do Norte, Brazil