At UFC Vegas 81 this coming Saturday, Michel Pereira will finally compete as a middleweight for the organisation when he faces Andre Petroski.
The Brazilian was promoted because he was too big for welterweight and missed weight against Stephen Thompson back in August.
The 30-year-old has previously competed at middleweight, taking against Dusko Todorovic on the local circuit in 2018. Then, in only his second UFC fight, he failed to make weight.
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Michael Pereira Is Now A Full Time Middleweight
Till this point, Pereira (28-11, 2NC) has had three fights postponed since his last victory against Ponzinibio in May. “Demolidor” acknowledged having “a lot more energy” going into this weight cut as a middleweight during a press conference for UFC Vegas 81.
Pereira claimed on MMA Fighting’s Trocaço Franca podcast that following his victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio in mid-2022, he had “five times” his fights postponed or cancelled, which caused his weight to spiral out of control. During his extended period without losing weight, Pereira claimed he ended up “gaining mass and getting stronger,” and once UFC 291 fight week for the Thompson fight started, Pereira’s weight just wouldn’t come off as usual.
He said, “It was not easy, it was tough to be honest but we know how life is, it’s tough to be a champion but I’m here to start a new chapter in my life and be champion one day so Saturday I’m a middleweight.”
Marc-Andre Barriault had been slated to fight Pereira this weekend, but the Canadian withdrew from the match. Fortunately for the Brazilian, the UFC called Andre Petroski and got a “yes” response.
Pereira acknowledged that middleweight would be his primary weight class going ahead, but he also said he once had to lose 21 kg (or 46 lbs) to reach the welterweight limit.
