“Demolidor” has a new home.
Former ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Michel Pereira will make his first post-UFC appearance against former Contender Series hopeful In Soo Hwang at ZFN 5 on Sat., Dec. 19, 2026, in Incheon, South Korea.
Z Fight Night (ZFN), the promotion founded by former UFC title challenger Chan Sung Jung, announced the Middleweight matchup Monday. The event will stream live on UFC Fight Pass.
Pereira (32-15, 2 NC) became a free agent following his unanimous decision
loss to Shara Magomedov at UFC Baku in June. The Brazilian had completed his previous contract with a split-decision win over Zachary Reese before returning on a one-fight deal against “Shara Bullet.”
That bout was not without controversy.
Magomedov repeatedly grabbed Pereira’s hair during grappling exchanges, but referee Herb Dean did not deduct a point. Pereira ultimately lost on all three judges’ scorecards, ending his UFC tenure with a 10-6 promotional record.
Pereira produced his best work at Welterweight, where he rattled off eight consecutive victories. After moving to Middleweight, “Demolidor” scored three straight first-round finishes and appeared poised to become a legitimate contender.
His momentum came crashing down against Anthony Hernandez, who battered Pereira en route to a fifth-round stoppage (watch highlights). Pereira ultimately lost four of his final five UFC appearances before entering free agency.
Now, the 33-year-old returns to the regional scene for the first time since joining UFC in 2019. South Korea is familiar territory for Pereira, who went 3-0 with three knockouts under the Road FC banner before reaching the Octagon.
Hwang (9-2) will not be a soft landing.
The former Road FC Middleweight champion unsuccessfully competed for a UFC contract on Contender Series in 2025, dropping a unanimous decision to Paddy McCorry. However, “Legendary” rebounded in May by stopping former Bellator and Professional Fighters League (PFL) veteran Alex Polizzi in the third round of the ZFN 4 main event.
Pereira made a name for himself in South Korea before reaching UFC. Now, he will attempt to begin the next chapter of his career in the same country.
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