Michel Pereira: My fight with Zelim Imadaev will be another show

Michel Pereira may be on a losing skid, but that doesn’t mean he’s planning on taming his wild and entertaining style.

[autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] may be on a losing skid, but that doesn’t mean he’s planning on taming his wild and entertaining style.

Pereira (23-11-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will look to snap his two-fight skid when he takes on Zelim Imadaev (8-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) at the UFC’s Sept. 5 event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

After a thrilling UFC debut against Danny Roberts, Pereira was upset by Tristan Connelly in September 2019 in a fight for which he missed weight and started to slow down in the second round. He received heavy criticism for exerting too much energy with his acrobatics.

That was followed by a disqualification loss to Diego Sanchez in February in a fight Pereira was in control of before striking Sanchez with an illegal knee that rendered him unable to continue.

But despite his recent octagon woes, Pereira chalks it off to unfortunate circumstances that hampered his performance and led to the losses.

“For my second bout, I had a very bad weight cut,” Pereira told MMA Junkie. “I traveled alone (to Canada). I spent the whole week alone, cutting weight. My cornermen didn’t show up. I only had help starting on Thursday night. It was hard to cut weight. I was afraid to get ill by myself in the sauna. The cut was bad and I didn’t have a way to recover fully. During the actual fight, I could feel my body demanding energy, which I didn’t have. I was really looking forward to fighting, but I didn’t know I’d be so drained.

“Diego Sanchez was sneaky. He took advantage of the knee that I landed illegally. He used the rules to his advantage. He was (a) chicken and refused to return to the fight. He could have returned. I guess either he was afraid, or he realized he had no way to win the fight if he continued. He was chicken and gave up, so I got disqualified. I landed that knee believing it was allowed, based on his stance. I thought he needed to have a hand on the mat for it to be considered illegal. And the knee that cut his forehead was a previous one, not the one that was deemed illegal.”

Pereira takes on Imadaev, who despite going 0-2 to start off his UFC tenure has engaged in two gritty back-and-forth battles.

So with that kind of dancing partner, Pereira is expecting to shine.

“I didn’t study him that much,” Pereira said. “I know he’s a striker. I train to face any type of opponent. I’ve been getting ready since around April. My weight is great. My training sessions have been great too. I’m well trained. I’m focused. Without a doubt, this will be another show – same as always. Everything is in place for us to have the ‘Fight of the Night.’ We’re both tough, skilled fighters. All fans will get to see Michel ‘the showman’ Pereira.

“I’m in the welterweight division to be the champ. Everyone knows I have all the tools needed to achieve that. I’m tough. I have the stamina. I put on shows. I have all I need. It’s the result of my hard work.” 

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UFC adds Michel Pereira vs. Zelim Imadaev to Sept. 5 event

A welterweight matchup between Michel Pereira and Zelim Imadaev is the latest addition to the UFC’s Sept. 5 event.

A welterweight matchup is the latest addition to the UFC’s Sept. 5 event.

[autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] (23-11-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will face [autotag]Zelim Imadaev[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC). No location or name designation has been announced for the event at this time.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the targeted booking to MMA Junkie after an initial report by ESPN. The person asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an announcement.

After a thrilling knockout over Danny Roberts in his UFC debut, Pereira has dropped his last two in a row to Tristan Connelly and most recently Diego Sanchez by disqualification in February.

Imadaev entered the UFC unbeaten, with all his wins coming by finish. However, he has struggled to get his feet wet in the UFC, falling short in his first two fights against Max Griffin and Danny Roberts. He will look to notch his first promotional win when he takes on Brazil’s Pereira.

With the addition, the current Sept. 5 lineup includes:

  • Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Julia Avila vs. Nicco Montano
  • Montana De La Rosa vs. Maryna Moroz
  • Michel Pereira vs. Zelim Imadaev

5 biggest takeaways from UFC on ESPN+ 25: Did Diego Sanchez quit?

Thoughts on the biggest storylines to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 25, which saw Jan Blachowicz and Diego Sanchez net notable wins.

What mattered most at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho? Here are a few post-fight musings …

* * * * *

1. Polish power reigns supreme

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] continued to silence his doubters in impressive fashion, this time with a blistering first-round knockout of Corey Anderson. This was not an easy moment for Blachowicz to attain. He was fighting an opponent who had thoroughly dominated him less than five years ago, and many believed he didn’t have the solution to win the rematch.

Blachowicz’s somewhat deceptive power-punching was the massive X-factor, though, because the instant he landed a clean shot on Anderson’s chin, it was over. The Polish fighter has now won seven of his past eight bouts and has put himself near the forefront of the title discussion in the light heavyweight division.

It remains to be seen if Blachowicz gets his championship opportunity against Jon Jones, who was sitting cageside and walked away impressed with what he witnessed. Blachowicz may not be able to do anything effective that “Bones” hasn’t been seen before, but he deserves his chance to try.

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UFC on ESPN+ 25 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Main event combine for $20k total

UFC on ESPN+ 25 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 25 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $186,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN+ 25 took place Saturday at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M. The entire card streamed ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN+ 25 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Montana De La Rosa[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mara Romero Borella[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Kazula Vargas[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Rogerio Bontorin[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Lando Vannata[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Yancy Medeiros[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Tim Means[/autotag]: $20,000

[autotag]John Dodson[/autotag]: $15,000
def. [autotag]Nathaniel Wood[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag]: $20,000

[autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Dequan Townsend[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Casey Kenney[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Macy Chiasson[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Shanna Young[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Raulian Paiva[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Mark De La Rosa[/autotag]: $5,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $577,000
2019 total: $7,370,500
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $31,581,500

Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC Rio Rancho with Bon Jovi vs. Loverboy showdown

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 25 event in Rio Rancho, N.M.

While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN+ 25 went with as their backing tracks in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Twitter reacts to Diego Sanchez’s DQ win over Michel Pereira at UFC on ESPN+ 25

See the top Twitter reactions to Diego Sanchez’s disqualification win over Michel Pereira at UFC on ESPN+ 25.

[autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag] added another win to his lengthy octagon resume on Saturday – but in a rathe bizarre manner – when he defeated [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] in the UFC on ESPN+ 25 co-main event.

Sanchez (30-12 MMA, 19-12 UFC) moved himself further up the promotion’s all-time wins list when he claimed the disqualification victory over Pereira (22-11 MMA, 1-2 UFC) after being hit with an illegal knee in the welterweight matchup, which took place at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., and streamed on ESPN+.

Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Sanchez’s victory over Pereira at UFC on ESPN+ 25.

* * * *

UFC on ESPN+ 25 predictions: Who stays in title contention – Corey Anderson or Jan Blachowicz?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN+ 25 main card in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Anderson
vs.
Blachowicz
Pereira
vs.
Sanchez
Borella
vs.
De La Rosa
Vargas
vs.
Weaver
Bontorin
vs.
Borg
Medeiros
vs.
Vannata
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 13-7
anderson2020
Anderson
(57%)
pereira2020
Pereira
(58%)
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
(83%)
weaver2020
Weaver
(71%)
borg2020-1
Borg
(61%)
medeiros2020
Medeiros
(62%)
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 17-3
trophy copy 2017 Champion
anderson2020
Anderson
pereira2020
Pereira
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
borg2020-1
Borg
medeiros2020
Medeiros
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 16-4
trophy copy 2019 Champion*
anderson2020
Anderson
pereira2020
Pereira
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
bontorin2020-1
Bontorin
medeiros2020
Medeiros
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 16-4
anderson2020
Anderson
sanchez2020
Sanchez
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
bontorin2020-1
Bontorin
medeiros2020
Medeiros
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 16-4
anderson2020
Anderson
pereira2020
Pereira
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
borg2020-1
Borg
medeiros2020
Medeiros
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 16-4
trophy copy 2014 Champion
anderson2020
Anderson
pereira2020
Pereira
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
borg2020-1
Borg
medeiros2020
Medeiros
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 16-4
anderson2020
Anderson
sanchez2020
Sanchez
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
borg2020-1
Borg
medeiros2020
Medeiros
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 15-5
trophy copy 2018 Champion
anderson2020
Anderson
pereira2020
Pereira
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
bontorin2020-1
Bontorin
medeiros2020
Medeiros
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 15-5
anderson2020
Anderson
pereira2020
Pereira
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
borg2020-1
Borg
vannata2020
Vannata
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 15-5
anderson2020
Anderson
sanchez2020
Sanchez
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
bontorin2020-1
Bontorin
medeiros2020
Medeiros
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 15-5
anderson2020
Anderson
sanchez2020
Sanchez
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
borg2020-1
Borg
medeiros2020
Medeiros
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 14-6
anderson2020
Anderson
sanchez2020
Sanchez
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
borg2020-1
Borg
medeiros2020
Medeiros
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 14-6
blachowicz2020
Blachowicz
pereira2020
Pereira
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
borg2020-1
Borg
vannata2020
Vannata
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 12-8
blachowicz2020
Blachowicz
pereira2020
Pereira
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
weaver2020
Weaver
borg2020-1
Borg
medeiros2020
Medeiros
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 11-9
anderson2020
Anderson
pereira2020
Pereira
delarosa2020
De La Rosa
vargas2020
Vargas
bontorin2020-1
Bontorin
medeiros2020
Medeiros

The UFC is in New Mexico this week for the first time in more than five years with a pair of light heavyweight contenders topping the bill.

UFC on ESPN+ 25 takes place Saturday at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., near Albuquerque. The event streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) takes on [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (25-8 MMA, 8-5 UFC) in a fight that will see the winner stay in the light heavyweight title picture for a possible meeting with champion Jon Jones. Anderson is more than a 2-1 favorite from the oddsmakers, and he has a big 12-2 lead in the picks from our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] (23-10 MMA, 1-1 UFC) takes on longtime Albuquerque resident [autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag] (29-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) at welterweight. Pereira is the slight favorite, and he’s got a 9-5 edge in the picks.

There’s a unanimous pick on the card, and another that nearly is unanimous. [autotag]Montana De La Rosa[/autotag] (10-5 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is a -175 favorite over [autotag]Mara Romero Borella[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) in their women’s flyweight fight. But despite fairly close betting odds, De La Rosa, whose husband Mark De La Rosa fights on the prelims, is a 14-0 pick from our staff.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) nearly is a unanimous pick in his lightweight fight against [autotag]Kazula Vargas[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC). Only one of our pickers is taking Vargas in an upset – Weaver nearly is a 3-1 favorite.

[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) takes on [autotag]Rogerio Bontorin[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in a flyweight fight that was moved up to the main card from the prelims mid-week. The fight is one of our two most contentious ones with Borg at a 9-5 lead.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Yancy Medeiros[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 6-6 UFC) takes on [autotag]Lando Vannata[/autotag] (10-4-2 MMA, 2-4-2 UFC) in a lightweight fight that is a near pick’em at the sportsbooks. But it’s Medeiros who has a whopping 12-2 lead in the picks with only two staff members taking Vannata.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Anderson (57 percent), Pereira (58 percent), De La Rosa (83 percent), Weaver (71 percent), Borg (61 percent) and Medeiros (62 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

5 burning questions heading into UFC on ESPN+ 25

MMA Junkie senior editor Dave Doyle walks you through all the biggest issues heading into the UFC’s New Mexico return.

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With Jon Jones’ narrow victory over Dominick Reyes last weekend at UFC 247 — which came seven months after his narrow victory over Thiago Santos at UFC 239 — the UFC’s light heavyweight division is suddenly more interesting than it has been for quite some time.

No longer simply a matter of Jones lording over a cast of over-the-hills and also-rans, 205 pounds is a land of intrigue. And the increased interest from UFC 247’s result carries over into this weekend’s UFC on ESPN+ 25.

[autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] meets [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] in a light heavyweight showdown Saturday night in the main event of the UFC’s return to New Mexico. It’s a rematch of a bout won by Anderson  (13-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in 2015, but so much has changed in the meantime that this may as well be an all-new matchup.

And while many fans continue to clamor for an immediate rematch between Jones and Reyes in the wake of Jones’ highly controversial decision win in Houston, the victor on Saturday night will have a real claim for a title shot, too.

UFC on ESPN+ 25 takes place Saturday at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M. The event streams on ESPN+.

Without further ado, then, here are five burning questions heading into UFC on ESPN+ 25.

Can Corey Anderson seal the deal?

Corey Anderson

Heading into UFC 247, Jones let slip that the UFC approached him with both Reyes and Anderson as potential opponents, and given the choice, Jones picked Reyes. Jones said he saw Reyes as a more interesting style matchup than Anderson.

That shows both how far Anderson has progressed, but also how much of his old image still lingers. The “TUF 19″ winner was perceived as a play-it-safe wrestler, and one who went through a 1-3 stretch at one point, to boot.

His current four-fight win streak, all over solid names, has been good enough to get him onto the short list for a title shot. But not even an exciting TKO of Johnny Walker at Madison Square Garden last time out was enough to vault him into a No. 1 contender spot.

Should he put in a similar performance against a competitor who enjoys a good brawl in Blachowicz, though, then Anderson might snag that elusive title matchup once and for all.

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