Brazilian media reports December debut for 10-win UFC veteran

Fighter resumes career just 3 months after leaving UFC

Michel Pereira, who is set to return to Korea after a seven-year UFC career. [Getty Images]
Michel Pereira, who is set to return to Korea after a seven-year UFC career. [Getty Images]

Michel Pereira (33, Brazil), a 10-win UFC veteran, is expected to join Korean promotion ZFN. With a return to the Korean circuit looking increasingly likely, attention is turning to whether Pereira will face domestic middleweight standout Hwang In-su (32).

Brazilian MMA outlet Super Lutas cited reporter Laercio Viana on Wednesday as saying Pereira has signed with ZFN and is set to debut in December. ZFN has yet to officially confirm the signing or announce an opponent for the bout.

Pereira fought his last UFC bout in June before leaving the organization in July. As Pereira looked for a new home, ZFN in Korea and FNC in Croatia were among the destinations mentioned. Given the long UFC tenure, there was broad expectation that Pereira could step in as a key fighter at another promotion right away.

After joining the UFC in 2019, Pereira competed at least twice a year in the octagon every year except 2021. Pereira went 10-6 in the promotion and at one point rode an eight-fight winning streak that carried into the middleweight rankings.

Pereira showed plenty of firepower in the final UFC outing on June 27 against Sharabutdin Magomedov of Russia. Pereira dropped the opponent in the first round and put in a strong performance, but lost by decision after the judges declined to deduct points despite Magomedov committing fouls including hair-grabbing and eye-gouging. Now 33 and in the prime years, Pereira holds a professional record of 32 wins and 15 losses with two no-contests.

Pereira is no stranger to Korean fans. Before joining the UFC, Pereira competed in Road FC from 2018, defeating Yang Hae-jun and Choi Won-jun, and in February 2019 stopped Kim Dae-sung by TKO in the second round. At the time, Pereira showed a clear and decisive edge over the Korean opponents.

Hwang In-su, one of Korea's top middleweights. [Road FC]
Hwang In-su, one of Korea's top middleweights. [Road FC]

Pereira's return to the Korean scene has MMA fans buzzing about a potential matchup with Hwang In-su. Ever since Pereira's departure from the UFC and a possible move to ZFN began circulating, domestic MMA communities have consistently named Hwang — also a middleweight — as the most likely opponent.

Hwang is widely regarded as one of Korea's top middleweights and has repeatedly expressed a desire to reach the UFC. However, a comparison of the two fighters' records reveals a considerable gap. Pereira stands at 32-15 at age 33, while Hwang, a year younger, is 9-2. Excluding no-contests, the difference in professional bouts fought is more than fourfold — 47 for Pereira against 11 for Hwang.

More significant than the volume of fights is the quality of experience. Pereira spent nearly seven years testing against world-class competition in the UFC. Hwang, by contrast, has displayed powerful striking and finishing ability on the Korean circuit but has not been consistently tested against UFC-caliber opponents. Given the objective difference in records and the level of competition each has faced, some say the matchup would be a mismatch.

Yet for Hwang, that very gap could be the opportunity. Despite repeated setbacks, Hwang has never abandoned the dream of reaching the UFC — and Pereira may be the last ticket there.


yjc@heraldcorp.com