Andre Petroski agreed to step in late notice for the toughest fight of his career so far, as he takes on Michel Pereira at UFC Vegas 81.
Since making his UFC debut in 2021, the 32-year-old has gone unbeaten in five fights, putting together a really solid run in the middleweight division. His last outing came against Gerald Meerschaert just two months ago, and he received the offer to step in late against Pereira whilst on holiday in Thailand enjoying his recent win.
Pereira was originally scheduled to fight Stephen Thompson in June, but due to missing weight, the fight was cancelled. With his being his second weight miss during his UFC tenure and him being a huge welterweight, the Brazilian had practically no choice other than to move up a weight class.
The UFC matched him up with Marc-Andre Barriault but the Canadian pulled out just five days ago.
With Petroski’s win streak growing fight by fight, he said at the UFC Vegas 81 media day that if he gets past Pereira then his next fight ‘has’ to be against a top 15 contender. Unless the UFC want to match him up with one Bo Nickal.
Petroski has continuously made it clear on his social media accounts that he desires a fight with Bo Nickal, to find out who the best middleweight grappler in the UFC is.
“My next fight has to be a top 15 guy, if not the Bo Nickal fight then definitely a top 15 guy. There’s a few guys in the top 15 that I’ve got my eye on for sure.
I continue to want to prove that I’m the best grappler in this division and I think I do that, I continue to go out and prove it. Bo seems to think so too so lets figure it out.”
Petroski also addressed Paulo Costa pulling out of his fight with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 later this month. It’s a fight Petroski would have been game for, if the money was right.
“For the right price, I would fight anybody. I’ll fight Brock Lesnar.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 81 media day appearance from Andre Petroski above.
