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Michel Pereira Reveals Why He Slapped Zelim Imadaev at UFC Fight Night

Published 09/06/2020, 3:41 PM EDT

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Michel Pereira was looking for redemption when he stepped up against Zelim Imadaev at UFC on Vegas 9. It is no surprise that he attained what he was seeking and returned to the win column with an impressive finish.

In his last two contests, Pereira suffered a controversial disqualification and a crushing loss. That said, he required an immediate win to get back on track. While he got the win comfortably, the contest had a lot more in store.

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During the official face-off, things turned ugly as Imadaev slapped Pereira following an intense stare-down. Although the security was quick to bring it under control, Pereira had set his eyes on his Russian rival.

Michel Pereira wanted to teach Zelim Imadaev a proper lesson

The Brazilian started strong and outstruck Imadaev throughout the fight. In response to Pereira’s 88 significant strikes, Imadaev barely got in 23.

After dominating the Russian like a rag-doll over the course of the first two rounds, Pereira sealed the victory on the ground. He followed up his strikes with a successful takedown and finally trapped the Russian with a rear-naked choke. A lovely sight for the Brazilian MMA fans.

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However, the scenario further intensified as Pereira revealed his thoughts before going to the fight. He was vexed about the physical altercation that took place during the face-off and was looking to exact revenge in the cage.

In the post-fight press conference, Pereira said, “I don’t know why exactly he did this. But I told him I would pay him back, and I did during the fight. I am a man, you can’t slap my face. I did show my hand, I kissed on my hand.

“So that he learns, he is not gonna do that again. He cannot do that,” said a vexed Pereira.

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The ‘Demolidor’ is now looking for a three-piece and soda challenge

After notching the commendable win, Pereira called out Jorge Masvidal for the BMF title. While the BMF talks back in motion with a potential rematch between Masvidal and Nate Diaz, Pereira tried to drop his name in the running for the same.

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For now, it is nothing but a mere callout. However, Pereira vs Masvidal can be a bodacious contest, citing yet another blockbuster for the fans.

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Written by:

Raj Sarkar

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A senior boxing writer at EssentiallySports, Raj Sarkar is a mass media graduate who is currently pursuing his master’s degree in broadcast journalism. In addition to his current role, he has worked with the MMA team at EssentiallySports and has interviewed prominent fighters such as Ritu Phogat and 'The Red King' Rory MacDonald. He combined his bachelor's degree with his adoration for combat sports and has a combined 2000 plus bylines in MMA and boxing over the last two years.
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