UFC fighter Michel Pereira, who is on a seven-fight winning streak, has said he will stop calling out specific opponents after numerous refusals, and instead will stay ready for any opportunity that comes his way.
Michel Pereira’s had it with begging for big-name UFC opponents. He’s in Rio, gearing up for his UFC 301 fight with Ihor Potieria this Saturday. The guy’s on a seven-fight winning streak, but he’s done calling out specific names. Too many no’s, you see.
He’s got a point, though. “You ask for something and it might work, but I’ve always asked and it never worked,” he said. But here’s the thing – he’s ready. He’s won seven in a row and now, he’s got a name. If the opportunity comes, they’ll put him in. No need to keep asking, right?
He’s even had a chat with the UFC bosses. Told ’em, “Boss, every time I fight, it’s a bonus-worthy fight. So let’s adjust the numbers because that means I’m doing a good job.” He’s not wrong, is he?
But the middleweight division? It’s a mess. Pereira’s words, not mine. “So many scared little stars” refusing to face each other. And then there’s the criticism about his relatively undistinguished opponent at UFC 301. Pereira’s not having any of it.
“The first opponent didn’t agree [to fight me] and a second one got injured,” he said. “That’s why I was out for so long, because of shit like this.” He doesn’t get it. “We just saw ‘Poatan’ [Alex Pereira] fight with a broken toe. They break their nails and cry about it. F*ck off, man.”
He’s got a point, though. “If you do a good job and they like you, and you’re not this little star that handpicks fights, they’ll always have a fight for you,” he said. He’s getting paid regardless. He was broke for a year and a half. Now, it’s his time to make money. “When I was broke, you didn’t wire me any money, so let me fight and make my money and put on my show, do the shit I always do.”
As for Potieria? He’s gone 2-3 in the UFC so far. He finished Robert Bryczek in his most recent appearance. Pereira doesn’t agree with the oddsmakers that have Potieria as a +400 underdog. “He’s not that weak,” Pereira said. “They’re thinking I’m fighting some random street fighter? No, this guy is good.”
Potieria’s first octagon victory was a first-round knockout of MMA legend Mauricio Rua at Farmasi Arena. That’s where he’s meeting Pereira on Saturday. Pereira’s got a mission, though. He wants to stop Potieria from scoring another victory over a Brazilian fan favorite.
“I saw the video of his fight with ‘Shogun’ yesterday and the moment he did a dance after knocking him out,” Pereira said. “I feel I’m on a mission to beat this guy, because every time he comes here and beats the Brazilians. I have to go crazy on him, because if he comes here and beats me, then he’s the Brazilian killer.”