Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC<\/p>\n
Michel Pereira looked like he was fighting for his future in the UFC on Saturday night.<\/strong><\/p>\n The 32-year-old Brazilian, known for his wild style, was up against Zachary Reese at UFC Houston.<\/p>\n Pereira came into the bout desperate to end a three-fight losing skid that had kept him out of the win column since May 2024.<\/p>\n Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC<\/p>\n Pereira returned to the win column with a split decision over Reese at UFC Houston.<\/p>\n Pereira landed an early knockdown but chose not to follow his opponent to the ground.<\/p>\n The opening round was otherwise spoiled by two accidental groin strikes from Reese.<\/p>\n In the second round, Pereira landed some powerful knees in the clinch before another foul from Reese \u2013 this time an eye poke \u2013 temporarily stopped the action.<\/p>\n Despite that interruption, both fighters exchanged strikes for much of the round, with Reese taking visible damage by the end of it.<\/p>\n The third round saw both men continue trading until the final bell.<\/p>\n Judges scored it 29\u201328, 28\u201329, and 29\u201328 in favour of Pereira. However, boos rang out around the Toyota Center after the official decision was announced.<\/p>\n Many fans on social media branded it a \u2018robbery\u2019, while others called for Pereira\u2019s release from the promotion.<\/p>\n Pereira had built an eight-fight win streak across four years before things started to unravel.<\/p>\n That stretch came to an end against Anthony Hernandez in October 2024, when the two headlined UFC Vegas 99.<\/p>\n \u2018Fluffy\u2019 took control of that bout, eventually finishing Pereira with a fifth-round TKO that moved him into the middleweight conversation.<\/p>\n Pereira then dropped his second straight fight in April 2025, losing a decision to Abus Magomedov.<\/p>\n The most recent setback was a quick one. Kyle Daukaus knocked him out in just 43 seconds at UFC Shanghai in August of last year.<\/p>\n Despite returning to the win column, Pereira still needs to prove himself to the fans following the events of UFC Houston.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\nMichel Pereira earns debated split decision over Zachary Reese<\/h2>\n
Looking back at Michel Pereira\u2019s losing run<\/h2>\n