Michel Pereira Books First Post-UFC Fight In South Korea
Michel Pereira will make his first appearance outside the UFC in over seven years when he meets In Soo Hwang at Z Fight Night 5 on Dec. 19 in Incheon, South Korea.
The middleweight matchup was announced Monday by Z Fight Night, the promotion founded by former UFC title challenger Chan Sung Jung, per MMA Mania. The card streams live on UFC Fight Pass.
Return To Familiar Territory After UFC Exit
Pereira became a free agent after dropping a unanimous decision to Shara Magomedov at UFC Baku in June. The Brazilian compiled a 10-6 record during his UFC run, which included eight straight wins at welterweight before moving to middleweight. After three consecutive first-round finishes at 185 pounds, he lost four of his final five Octagon appearances, including a fifth-round stoppage to Anthony Hernandez that derailed his contender push.
South Korea represents a homecoming of sorts for the 33-year-old. Pereira went 3-0 with three knockouts under the Road FC banner before joining the UFC in 2019. Hwang brings a 9-2 record and the Road FC middleweight championship to the bout. The South Korean dropped a decision to Paddy McCorry on the Contender Series in 2025 but rebounded in May by stopping former Bellator and PFL veteran Alex Polizzi in the third round at ZFN 4.
The Pereira-Magomedov loss at UFC Baku drew scrutiny after Magomedov repeatedly grabbed Pereira's hair during grappling exchanges without a point deduction from referee Herb Dean. All three judges scored the fight for Magomedov, closing the door on Pereira's time with the promotion.
Photo by Maya Alexa G. Romero on Unsplash
Original reporting:
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