# Michel Pereira
**Michel Pereira** is a Brazilian mixed martial artist from [Marabá](https://www.edgepedia.org/maraba), Brazil, who competed in the UFC's welterweight and middleweight divisions, where his acrobatic, unorthodox striking style made him one of the promotion's most recognizable fighters before his removal from the roster in July 2026[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michel-pereira?language_content_entity=en-can) • [2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/499434/michel-pereira-removed-from-ufc-roster-after-loss-to-shara-bullet-in-baku). He fights under the nickname "Demolidor" (Portuguese for "Demolition Man"), which he says a friend gave him[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michel-pereira?language_content_entity=en-can).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993, Marabá, Brazil[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705) |
| Professional record | 32-15-0, with 11 wins by knockout, 9 by submission, and 15 first-round finishes[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michel-pereira?language_content_entity=en-can) |
| UFC record | 10-6 across 16 bouts in two weight classes[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/499434/michel-pereira-removed-from-ufc-roster-after-loss-to-shara-bullet-in-baku) |
| Octagon debut | May 18, 2019, a first-round knockout of Danny Roberts by flying knee and punch[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michel-pereira?language_content_entity=en-can) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705) |
| Physical profile | 6'1" (185.42 cm), 186 lbs (84.37 kg), orthodox stance, 185.4 cm reach[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705) • [4](https://ufcsavant.com/fighters/217) |
| Teams | Xtreme Couture / Overcome Academy[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michel-pereira?language_content_entity=en-can) |
| UFC exit | Removed from the roster on July 14, 2026, after a unanimous-decision loss to Shara Magomedov at UFC Baku[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/499434/michel-pereira-removed-from-ufc-roster-after-loss-to-shara-bullet-in-baku) |
## Fighting style
Pereira built his reputation on spectacle. Clips of his appearances under South Korea's Road FC banner, in which he threw backflips off the fence and attempted unconventional attacks, went viral in the online MMA community and turned him into a social-media sensation before he joined the UFC[5](https://www.ufc.com.br/news/birth-of-michel-pereiras-unconventional-style). His style blends kickboxing with gymnastics and breakdance-like movement, and he has described it as simply what he feels: "It's just my style; it's what I feel in my heart and in my head, and it's the way that I like to fight"[5](https://www.ufc.com.br/news/birth-of-michel-pereiras-unconventional-style). In his UFC debut he taunted, dropped his guard, spun, and stomped off the fence, mixing dance and acrobatics into his fighting[6](https://www.ufc.com.br/news/o-showman-do-octogono).
The approach carried costs. In his second UFC appearance, against Tristan Connelly in Vancouver in September 2019, Pereira missed weight and lost a unanimous decision; he would have won a Fight of the Night bonus for the bout but was ineligible because of the weight miss[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michel-pereira?language_content_entity=en-can). In February 2020 he was disqualified against [Diego Sanchez](https://www.edgepedia.org/diego-sanchez) for an illegal knee[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705).
## UFC career
Pereira debuted at UFC Fight Night on May 18, 2019, knocking out Danny Roberts in 1:47 of the first round with a flying knee and punch[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705). After the losses to Connelly and Sanchez, he rebuilt his record with decision wins over Kalinn Williams, Zelim Imadaev, Niko Price, Andre Fialho, and [Santiago Ponzinibbio](https://www.edgepedia.org/santiago-ponzinibbio) between December 2020 and May 2022[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705).
**The middleweight run.** After moving up to middleweight, Pereira put together the best stretch of his UFC career, winning eight in a row at one point[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/499434/michel-pereira-removed-from-ufc-roster-after-loss-to-shara-bullet-in-baku). He earned performance bonuses for first-round finishes of Andre Petroski (TKO, October 2023), Michal Oleksiejczuk (technical submission by rear-naked choke at UFC 299, March 2024), and Ihor Potieria (guillotine choke at [UFC 301](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-301), May 2024), all within seven months[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/499434/michel-pereira-removed-from-ufc-roster-after-loss-to-shara-bullet-in-baku) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705). By October 2024 he was ranked 14th at middleweight and headlined a UFC card for the first time, facing Anthony Hernandez at UFC Vegas 99[7](https://www.ufc.com.br/news/michel-pereira-relembre-trajetoria-protagonista-ufc-vegas-99).
**The decline.** Pereira lost his next three bouts after the Potieria win: Hernandez stopped him with elbows at 2:22 of the fifth round in October 2024, [Abus Magomedov](https://www.edgepedia.org/abusupiyan-magomedov) beat him by unanimous decision in April 2025, and Kyle Daukaus knocked him out in 43 seconds in August 2025[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/499434/michel-pereira-removed-from-ufc-roster-after-loss-to-shara-bullet-in-baku) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705). He completed his UFC contract in February 2026 with a split-decision win over Zach Reese, snapping the skid, but the promotion offered only a one-fight deal to face Shara "Bullet" Magomedov at UFC Baku on June 27, 2026[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/499434/michel-pereira-removed-from-ufc-roster-after-loss-to-shara-bullet-in-baku).
## Release from the UFC
Magomedov won the Baku fight by unanimous decision, 29-28 on all three cards, and Pereira lost in four of his last five appearances overall[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/499434/michel-pereira-removed-from-ufc-roster-after-loss-to-shara-bullet-in-baku) • [8](https://ge.globo.com/combate/noticia/2026/07/15/michel-pereira-e-dispensado-do-ufc-apos-derrota-no-azerbaijao.ghtml). The fight itself was controversial: Pereira complained publicly that referee [Herb Dean](https://www.edgepedia.org/herb-dean) issued several warnings but did not deduct a point from Magomedov for pulling Pereira's hair twice, and no point was taken for an eye poke later in the fight[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/499434/michel-pereira-removed-from-ufc-roster-after-loss-to-shara-bullet-in-baku). Pereira sought to appeal the loss[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705).
On July 14, 2026, MMA Fighting reported that Pereira had been removed from the UFC roster, and Brazilian outlets confirmed the release[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/499434/michel-pereira-removed-from-ufc-roster-after-loss-to-shara-bullet-in-baku) • [8](https://ge.globo.com/combate/noticia/2026/07/15/michel-pereira-e-dispensado-do-ufc-apos-derrota-no-azerbaijao.ghtml) • [9](https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/ultimas-noticias/ag-fight/2026/07/14/fim-de-ciclo-ufc-demite-michel-pereira-apos-oscilacao-e-polemica-com-arbitragem.htm?forcedFormat=NORMAL&uol_app=). The light heavyweight champion [Alex Pereira](https://www.edgepedia.org/alex-pereira), a fellow Brazilian, publicly blamed the refereeing for the loss and criticized the removal[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705).
## Record and statistics
Across his full professional career, Pereira's 32 wins break down as 11 by knockout or technical knockout (34%), 9 by submission (28%), and 12 by decision (38%)[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michel-pereira?language_content_entity=en-can) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705). His submission wins include three rear-naked chokes, two triangle chokes, an arm triangle, two guillotines, and an armbar[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michel-pereira?language_content_entity=en-can). In UFC competition he landed 752 of 1,463 significant strikes attempted (about 51%) and averaged 4.28 significant strikes landed per minute, with 84% of his significant strikes landed from a standing position[10](https://www.ufc.com.br/athlete/michel-pereira). His fights ran long on average, about 10:59 of fight time, reflecting both his finishing ability and his tendency to go the distance[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michel-pereira?language_content_entity=en-can).
## References
1. [Michel Pereira, UFC athlete profile](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michel-pereira?language_content_entity=en-can)
2. [Michel Pereira removed from UFC roster after loss to Shara Bullet in Baku, MMA Fighting (Guilherme Cruz, July 14, 2026)](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/499434/michel-pereira-removed-from-ufc-roster-after-loss-to-shara-bullet-in-baku)
3. [Michel "Demolidor" Pereira, Sherdog fighter page](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michel-Pereira-135705)
4. [Michel Pereira, UFC Savant](https://ufcsavant.com/fighters/217)
5. [The Birth Of Pereira's Unconventional Style, UFC](https://www.ufc.com.br/news/birth-of-michel-pereiras-unconventional-style)
6. [O showman do octógono, UFC](https://www.ufc.com.br/news/o-showman-do-octogono)
7. [Michel Pereira: relembre a trajetória do protagonista do UFC Vegas 99, UFC.com.br](https://www.ufc.com.br/news/michel-pereira-relembre-trajetoria-protagonista-ufc-vegas-99)
8. [Michel Pereira é dispensado do UFC após derrota no Azerbaijão, ge.globo (July 15, 2026)](https://ge.globo.com/combate/noticia/2026/07/15/michel-pereira-e-dispensado-do-ufc-apos-derrota-no-azerbaijao.ghtml)
9. [UFC demite Michel Pereira após oscilação e polêmica com arbitragem, UOL/Ag Fight (July 14, 2026)](https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/ultimas-noticias/ag-fight/2026/07/14/fim-de-ciclo-ufc-demite-michel-pereira-apos-oscilacao-e-polemica-com-arbitragem.htm?forcedFormat=NORMAL&uol_app=)
10. [Michel Pereira, UFC.com.br athlete profile](https://www.ufc.com.br/athlete/michel-pereira)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › Welterweight and middleweight fighters › Middleweight fighters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license