Michel Pereira is no longer on the UFC roster following his decision loss to Shara Magomedov at UFC Baku on June 27, MMA Fighting has learned. Pereira leaves the promotion after building a 10-6 record inside the octagon across two weight classes, having lost in four of his last five appearances.
The 32-year-old Brazilian completed his previous deal with the UFC with a split-decision victory over Zach Reese in February, snapping a three-fight skid, and was only offered a one-fight contract to face
“Bullet” in Baku.
Pereira has complained publicly about referee Herb Dean’s work in the fight in Azerbaijan, issuing several warnings but not deduction a point from Magomedov for pulling Pereira’s hair twice. Magomedov was not deducted a point for an eye poke later in the fight, which ended in a unanimous 29-28 in favor of “Bullet”.
Pereira won eight in a row at some point during his UFC career, winning bonuses for his first-round finishes over Ihor Potieria, Michal Oleksiejczuk and Andre Petroski in a span of seven months, but stumbled in his next three bouts against Anthony Hernandez, Abus Magomedov and Kyle Daukaus.
