Michel Pereira vs Abusupiyan Magomedov: Predictions, Analysis, and Breakdown

Michel Pereira and Abusupiyan Magomedov are set to face off at UFC Fight Night. Their bout is the 11th fight out of 14 on the Main Card. This is a Middleweight division match, meaning both fighters will compete at 185 lbs (83.9 kg).

Michel Pereira is coming in this bout from 4 wins in the last five. Meanwhile, Abusupiyan Magomedov is on two winning streak. Here’s a quick breakdown—and who could be the smarter bet?

Fighters’ Profiles and Strength

MICHEL PEREIRA – LWWWW

Michel Pereira, also known as “Demolidor,” is stepping into this match after a loss. His last fight took place on October 19, 2024, in the UFC. He faced Anthony Hernandez and lost in the fifth round by Ground and Pound knockout.

At 31 years old, Pereira is currently ranked the 15th best middleweight fighter in the world. His professional record stands at 31 wins, 12 losses, and 2 no contests. Out of his victories, 11 came by knockout, 8 by submission, and 11 by decision. On the losing side, he has suffered 2 knockouts, 1 submission, 7 decisions, and 1 disqualification.

Throughout his career, Pereira has fought across four different promotions. His journey started in 2014 with the Xtreme Fighting Championship (XFC), where he had three fights, winning two and losing one. After a short break, he joined the Serbian Battle Championship (SBC) in 2017. There, he also fought three times and again came out with two wins and one loss.

In 2018, he moved to Road Fighting Championship (Road FC). That year, he had three fights and won all of them by knockout. Then came his big move to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2019. Since joining, he has fought 12 times, winning nine and losing three.

ABUSUPIYAN MAGOMEDOV – WWLLW

Abusupiyan Magomedov is currently riding a two-fight winning streak. His professional MMA record stands at 27 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw. At 34 years old, he has competed across three major promotions.

SHOP: Ultimate T8 Boxing Gloves

His journey started in 2018 with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). There, he fought five times—winning three, losing one, and ending one in a draw. After that, he moved to the KSW promotion, where he earned a submission victory.

In 2022, Magomedov joined the UFC. Since then, he has fought five times under the banner, winning three and losing two. Looking at how he wins, he has 14 knockouts, 7 submissions, and 6 decisions. As for his losses, they include 2 technical knockouts, a submission, and some by decision.

His most recent fight was on October 26, 2024, against Brunno Ferreira. He won that bout in the third round with an arm triangle choke. Just before that, he took on Warlley Alves at a UFC Fight Night event and secured a win by unanimous decision.

What time is the fight?

The fight kicks off live on Saturday, 04.26.2025 at 06:00 PM ET

Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri, United States

How Can I Watch It?

If you’re interested, you can watch it on ESPN+ Pay-per-view.

Statistical Matchup

CATEGORY	MICHEL PEREIRA	ABUSUPIYAN MAGOMEDOV
AGE	31	34
REACH	73.0″	78.0″
HEIGHT	6’1″	6’2″
PRO RECORD	31-12-0	27-6-1
FIGHTING OUT OF	Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Düsseldorf, Germany

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Final Prediction

Michel Pereira has been fighting professionally since 2011. He might look like he’s 40, but he’s just 31. Over the years, he’s earned several Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses. Still, he’s not ranked among the top fighters—and that’s surprising.

In his recent fight, I noticed something. His flashy, high-energy moves didn’t seem to do much damage. Many of them didn’t even land cleanly. Yet, when he fought Zelim Imadaev, those slaps were brutal. That fight was more than just a show—it was a lesson in respect. Pereira dominated for almost three rounds and ended it with a slick submission. He got his revenge that night.

Skill-wise, Pereira is solid. He’s oddly technical, especially when striking. He may not always fight smart, but he is high-level. Win or lose, he brings the excitement. However, he often trades endurance for athletic stunts.

On the other side, Abusupiyan Magomedov brings a different approach. He’s precise with his knee strikes and knows how to set up his hooks. Sometimes he fakes a kick, and the next second, he’s already shooting for a takedown. He usually pushes for takedowns early in the fight.

Pereira is extremely athletic, no doubt. But he can also make some questionable choices. In one fight, he missed weight by about five pounds. He looked tired before the fight even started. His entrance lasted nearly 10 minutes, and he probably flipped six or seven times before stepping into the cage. That night, he underestimated Tristan Connelly, who, by the way, took the fight on just one week’s notice. That loss was embarrassing.

Connelly kept things simple. He let Pereira tire himself out. He pressured him nonstop—a big reason Pereira gassed. Despite getting rocked early, Connelly picked up the pace in the later rounds and edged out a win. He also moved up a weight class and only had five days to prepare.

As for this match-up, I’m leaning towards Abus. He may never become a champion, but his style is complete. That might be all he needs to beat someone like Pereira. I don’t trust a fighter who runs out of gas in three minutes and only beats unranked, one-dimensional opponents. The odds are set for a reason, and it feels like they want you to bet on Pereira at a tempting price. I’m not falling for it.

EITHER TO WIN IN ROUND 2

ABUSUPIYAN MAGOMEDOV TO WIN IN ROUND 2

FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE (NO)