Back when Michel Pereira first arrived into the UFC as a welterweight, the scouting report was that he’d put on some exciting fights, but struggle with his gas tank. Yet at UFC 301, Pereira, now a middleweight, was looking to extend a seven-fight win streak opposite Ihor Potieria.
“Demolidor” wasted no time in demolishing the competition on Saturday. Within moments, he had stunned Ihor Potieria, knocking him to his back. Pereira then backflipped – one of his patented moves, in essence a pro wrestling-style standing moonsault – onto Potieria, with a shin glancing off the Ukrainian’s head.
THAT. JUST. HAPPENED. 👀@UFCPereira | #UFC301 pic.twitter.com/pffqqaOPZ2
— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2024
From there, Pereira caught his opponent in a guillotine. As Ihor was tapping, he lost consciousness, and Michel Pereira had his eighth straight win!
Some debate was had immediately following the win, thanks to the incidental contact between Pereira and Potieria off that back flip. The local athletic commission and referee in the cage held a lengthy discussion prior to the result being read. Ultimately, the ringside officials gave the result a pass, perhaps due to the contact being incidental and mostly to the chest/shoulder area, with Pereira coming away with the submission win. With one of the most memorable finishing sequences in recent times no doubt.
ALL HE NEEDED WAS 54 SECONDS 😱@UFCPereira gets the submission in the first round! #UFC301 pic.twitter.com/lCcN5z8Js1
— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2024
Eight straight wins, and one of the most exciting resumes among active UFC fighters, have Michel Pereira’s stock way up.
Official Result: Michel Pereira def. Ihor Potieria by submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 0:54
