UFC Fight Night: Zachary Reese vs Michel Pereira Preview & Prediction
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Kicking off the main card, Michel Pereira makes what could be his last stand in the promotion against the surging Zachary Reese.
Zachary Reese vs Michel Pereira facts
What time are Zachary Reese and Michel Pereira expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs Hernandez? Toyota Center, Houston, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs Hernandez? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs Hernandez on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs Hernandez? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs Hernandez main card
Sean Strickland vs Anthony Hernandez (Middleweight)
Geoff Neal vs Uros Medic (Welterweight)
Dan Ige vs Melquizael Costa (Featherweight)
Serghei Spivac vs Ante Delija (Heavyweight)
Jacobe Smith vs Josiah Harrell (Welterweight)
Zachary Reese vs Michel Pereira (Middleweight)
UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs Hernandez prelims
Chidi Njokuani vs Carlos Leal Miranda (Welterweight)
Ode' Osbourne vs Alibi Idiris (Flyweight)
Alden Coria vs Luis Gurule (Flyweight)
Nora Cornolle vs Joselyne Edwards (Women’s Bantamweight)
Ramiz Brahimaj vs Punahele Soriano (Welterweight)
Philip Rowe vs Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani (Welterweight)
Jordan Leavitt vs Yadier del Valle (Featherweight)
Juliana Miller vs Carli Judice (Women’s Flyweight)
Zachary Reese: Can "Savage" score the biggest win of his career to date?
A UFC competitor since 2023, Contender Series alum, Zachary Reese (10-2, 1 NC), has turned things around in impressive fashion after a harrowing KO slam defeat to Cody Brundage in his UFC debut, with the American's only loss since that result coming to a well-regarded fighter in Azamat Bekoev. Leveraging his imposing 6'4 frame to his advantage, Reese combines decent pop in his hands with solid wrestling to the tune of a 4-2, 1 NC UFC record to date. He's arguably never looked better, a state of affairs underlined by a POTN winning submission over Jackson McVey in his most recent appearance.
Michel Pereira: Does "Demolidor" have anything left in the tank after a string of devastating setbacks?
It's hard to believe that just over two years ago, Michel Pereira (31-14, 2 NC) was on an eight fight win streak split across two weight divisions, a run that included four finishes and five POTN bonuses. Unfortunately, that version of "Demolidor" hasn't been seen since Anthony Hernandez handed out one of the most brutal and prolonged beatdowns in the promotion's history during their 2024 encounter, pulverizing the Brazilian with ground and pound across five rounds. Pereira has been a shadow of his former self since, dropping a dismal decision to Abus Magomedov before getting sent to the shadow realm with a one-punch KO by purported grappler, Kyle Daukaus.
Zachary Reese vs Michel Pereira prediction
With the greatest of respect, Pereira looks to be completely cooked as a legitimate contender. Kyle Daukaus had just a single professional KO victory prior to running into “Demolidor” and he sent Pereira astral traveling with punches in less than a round. The Brazilian has never been the same since getting destroyed by Anthony Hernandez back in 2024, a loss that has seemingly irrevocably altered the course of his career.
While Reese may never crack the top 10 at 185 pounds, he’s still an enormous middleweight with excellent striking and power in his hands. “Savage” has looked extremely solid since coming up short to Azamat Bekoev in his most recent defeat; he’d be on a three fight win streak but for an unfortunate NC against Sedriques Dumas last September. He’s also got solid wrestling to fall back on, a concerning omen given that grappling has long been an Achilles heel for Pereira even prior to his latest skid.
Even if grappling doesn’t factor into this one, Reece looks to pose more of a threat on the feet than Abus Magomedov and the aforementioned Daukaus; two fighters who decisively bested Pereira in the striking department to leave his reputation as a lethal KO artist in tatters. The Pereira of old would have arguably been favored to take this one, but “Demolidor” has looked so shot in his last few fights that it’s impossible to pick him here.
Prediction: Zachary Reese to win by stoppage
