Preview: UFC 270 ‘Ngannou vs. Gane’

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Welterweights

NR | Michel Pereira (26-11, 4-2 UFC) vs. NR | Andre Fialho (14-3, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Pereira (-290), Fialho (+230)

Pereira finds himself in an interesting spot, balancing effectiveness with entertainment. When the UFC picked up Pereira in 2019, it was a pleasant surprise. The Brazilian had gotten attention for his wild and highlight-friendly style, but he seemed like the type of outside-the-box meme fighter on which the UFC can sometimes quickly sour. Pereira’s UFC debut went about as well as possible, with “Demolidor” flying and flipping around the cage before knocking out Danny Roberts in a shade under two minutes. However, it looked like he would slide out of the UFC shortly thereafter. First came his loss to late-notice replacement Tristan Connelly in an infamous performance where Pereira missed weight and then mismanaged his gas tank to the point that he lost to a natural featherweight. Then came another setback to Diego Sanchez. Pereira was obviously the more effective fighter up until the point that he got disqualified via an illegal knee. Pereira has since strung together three straight wins, though it may have come at the expense of what made him such a must-see attraction. He often uses his physical gifts as a means to survive and neutralize his opponents, though he still shows flashes of his creative offense during the moments he springs into action. It is difficult to say that Pereira is pacing himself, given that he still seems to tire in the face of any consistent resistance, but it is a much more effective approach, even if it feels like a betrayal of his all-action roots. He will face a Portuguese newcomer in Fialho, who has a surprisingly strong resume for someone filling in on short notice.

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A Bellator MMA and Professional Fighters League vet, Fialho has faced some solid competition thus far. All of his losses came to current or former UFC fighters, and he has knocked out Octagon alums James Vick and Stefan Sekulic as part of his current four-fight winning streak. While Fialho is willing to mix it up at points, he is at his best as a patient but powerful striker. The Sekulic win, which occurred as the Serb was attempting to take down Fialho against the fence, showed the brutal amount of power the Sanford MMA product can generate in short space and with little notice. Fialho should be a constant knockout threat given how flaky Pereira can be at times, but with the UFC newcomer having his own cardio issues in fast-paced fights, he is not particularly well-suited to take advantage of the Brazilin’s tendency to flag late. The finishing threat is a concern, but the pick is Pereira via decision.

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