Michael Pereira Addresses Middleweight Transition Following Stephen Thompson Fight Weight-Cutting Incident

Michel Pereira missed weight for his fight against Stephen Thompson due to his weight ballooning after multiple fight cancellations, leading him to make the decision to move up to middleweight for his upcoming fight.

Michel Pereira, a professional middleweight fighter, recently made the decision to transition from welterweight after struggling with a frightening weight cut. In an interview with the Trocação Franca podcast, Pereira revealed that his weight had spiraled out of control due to multiple fight postponements and cancellations since his victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio in mid-2022. During this extended period without weight cutting, Pereira noticed a significant increase in his size and strength. However, when it came time for his match against Stephen Thompson at UFC 291, Pereira’s weight refused to drop as it had in the past.

Pereira explained his struggles, stating, “When we began cutting weight, doing what we always did, the result was different. This time, I only lost a pound during my sleep. Every day was a struggle. I even spent four hours in a sauna…I did everything I could.” The grueling weight cutting process in Salt Lake City led Pereira to fear for his life. In desperation, his team reached out to the UFC medical staff for help. Despite their efforts, Pereira was unable to shed the necessary weight, leading to the cancellation of the fight.

Now making his middleweight debut against Andre Petroski at UFC Vegas 81, Pereira reflects on the difficulties he faced. Feeling overwhelmed during the weight cut, he realized that his body could no longer handle the welterweight division. He admitted, “It’s not the first time I was that big, but since I kept getting fights cancelled, it was harder to cut weight…When I realized there was a problem, it was already too late.” Pereira even shared that he felt something going wrong during his last weight cut, prompting his team to seek assistance from a UFC nutritionist. However, their efforts were unsuccessful.

Although Pereira and Thompson are both managed by the same agent, Pereira believes that Thompson was aware of his predicament but chose not to accept the fight. Pereira expressed his disappointment, saying, “He overreacted a bit for not accepting this fight. He’s a fighter and he knows things happen.” While acknowledging Thompson’s right to make that decision, Pereira believed he had made every effort to comply. Despite this setback, Pereira remains focused on his upcoming middleweight fight and is determined to showcase his skills in the octagon.

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