Kicking off the UFC Houston main card, Brazil’s Michel Pereira was paired up with Zach Reese in a fight fans no doubt hoped would set off a powder keg.
“Demolidor” had fallen on hard times, with the popular welterweight having lost three straight.
Reese let loose with some cracking leg kicks early, but Pereira timed one, coming over the top with a punch. Moments later, a right hand put Reese on his back, though in short order Pereira allowed him back up. A front kick connected for Pereira, Reese’s response hit air. A questionable low blow followed, with Pereira the victim, but the kick looking pretty clean. Moments later, a second, equally dubious low blow followed. Grazing at best, and the crowd let their displeasure be known.
On the next restart, a high kick clipped Pereira, though he stayed standing and recovered quickly. Moments later, he scored a takedown, putting a stamp on a round he’d won.
Pereira landed a couple of solid knees early in round two, sending Reese reeling. He put Reese on the fence after that, but couldn’t keep him there. A third knee came in an exchange moments later, but Reese then landed an eye poke. The fingers were extended, though it was more of a rake.
Off the restart, things go scrappy, and Reese found himself bloodied. The visual wasn’t good, but Reese would actually start flowing a little. Another foul followed, an accidental head clash, but no stoppage this time. Then, another big knee from Pereira. Reese’s own knees were less effective, as was his overall offense.
A scrappy third round saw more back-and-forth action in round three. For a fighter often criticized for his gas tank, Michel Pereira still seemed to have plenty of energy by the end. They did a little stand-and-bang trading in the final minute, Pereira even pointing to the canvas at one point. No Max Holloway-style throwdown ensued, but a great fight by the end, between a pair of former teammates no less. One that Pereira clearly got the better of, though one judge sided with Reese.
Official Result: Michel Pereira def. Zach Reese by unanimous decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
