“Demolidor” has found a new arena.
Michel Pereira, a former ranked Middleweight fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is set to make his debut outside the UFC cage against In Soo Hwang, a former hopeful from the Contender Series. Their bout will take place at ZFN 5 on Saturday, December 19, 2026, in Incheon, South Korea.
Z Fight Night (ZFN), a promotion launched by ex-UFC title challenger Chan Sung Jung, announced the Middleweight clash on Monday. The event will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.
Pereira, who holds a record of 32 wins, 15 losses, and 2 no contests, became a free agent after a unanimous decision loss to Shara Magomedov at UFC Baku in June. The Brazilian fighter had finished his previous contract with a split-decision victory over Zachary Reese, then returned on a one-fight deal to face “Shara Bullet.”
That fight stirred controversy as Magomedov repeatedly grabbed Pereira’s hair during grappling moments, yet referee Herb Dean did not penalize him. Pereira lost via unanimous decision, concluding his UFC career with a record of 10 wins and 6 losses in the promotion.
Pereira’s best performances were at Welterweight, where he earned eight straight wins. Moving up to Middleweight, he impressively secured three consecutive first-round finishes and seemed ready to contend seriously. However, his streak ended with a tough loss to Anthony Hernandez, who overwhelmed him leading to a fifth-round stoppage. Pereira dropped four of his last five UFC fights before hitting free agency.
Now 33 years old, Pereira returns to the regional MMA scene for the first time since joining the UFC in 2019. South Korea is a familiar wrestling ground for him, where he held a perfect 3-0 record with three knockouts under the Road FC promotion before making his UFC entry.
In Soo Hwang, standing with a 9-2 record, is far from an easy opponent. The former Road FC Middleweight champion failed to secure a UFC contract after losing a unanimous decision to Paddy McCorry on Contender Series in 2025. Yet, “Legendary” bounced back impressively by knocking out ex-Bellator and PFL veteran Alex Polizzi in the third round of the ZFN 4 main event this past May.
Pereira first built his reputation fighting in South Korea, and now he looks to write the next chapter of his career in that same country.
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Fan Take: This bout is significant for fight fans as it marks the return of an electrifying talent like Pereira to a regional stage where potential stars are often forged. It highlights how fighters can reinvent themselves outside the UFC spotlight, potentially elevating the global MMA scene with fresh rivalries and exciting matchups.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
