Michel Pereira’s hype train didn’t last long into his UFC career. After a stunning flying knee knockout of Danny Roberts in his debut, the wild welterweight was halted by Tristan Connelly in the next outing. It was a loss many fans chalked up to the Brazilian not taking the bout seriously, and trying too many jumping and spinning techniques—causing him to gas early and eventually lose a unanimous decision.
Now paired up against veteran Diego Sanchez at UFC Rio Rancho, Pereira tells Combate he wants to silence his critics, and show he has not been figured out.