Booked into the co-main event of UFC Baku this Saturday, Brazilian middleweight Michel Pereira is set to take on another popular striker in Sharabutdin Magomedov, otherwise known as Shara Bullet.
“Demolidor” addressed the match-up during this week’s UFC Baku media day, saying that “I’ve faced tough competition, very tough competition and I don’t think because of the styles that this is going to be the hardest fight. And I will say, fighting the way I fight, doing the backflips and fighting in my style is way more difficult than just going out there and fighting.”
Pereira (32-14, 2NC) is unquestionably an unorthodox fighter who hit the radar of many fight fans when he pulled off a pro wrestling-style “moonsault” in a bout prior to his UFC run. Asked about Shara Bullet’s own unorthodox style, Pereira didn’t agree that he even had one.
“I don’t think he’s that different from other fighters. I don’t see him as a different or unorthodox type of fighter,” Pereira stated. “He does not do the things that I do, whether it’s a back flip or types of strikes you’ve never seen before. I think when he’s fighting, he’s a very conventional fighter.”
Opponent Magomedov hasn’t fought in a while, but Pereira noted that the inactivity may not matter in the end.
“I don’t think it plays a part, because if he actually had a good camp to face me, we’ll all be prepared to put on a great show. So it doesn’t matter that he hasn’t fought in a while.”
Pereira did reveal that he has some bad blood with Shara Bullet, however, after the latter made negative comments about the Brazilian helping with flood relief at home. “He made comments out of nowhere about the fact that I was helping people, and took the opportunity to get clout out of that. So I don’t really give a damn what he says, he doesn’t look to be a good person.”
“It makes me even more motivated to go out there and beat him up,” Pereira finished.
Watch the full UFC Baku media day appearance by Michel Pereira above.
