Looking to get out of a two-fight losing streak, Michel Pereira faced Zelim Imadaev on UFC’s main card on Saturday. Their matchup went like this.
Bout 5: Michel Pereira (23-11) vs. Zelim Imadaev (8-2) (Welterweight)
Pereira connected with some punches in the first minute. He landed a knee to the head at the end of a combination in the third minute of the round. A right hand in the fourth minute dropped Imadaev. Pereira had little showboating moments in the round, dancing or pushing off the cage throughout.
Imadaev landed a right hand early in the second round, connecting as Pereira came in for a strike of his own. Taunting Imadaev, Pereira through open-fist strikes in the third minute. Imadaev put Pereira against the cage in a clinch, separating moments after. Pereira connected with solid punches throughout. Imadaev landed a punch after the horn.
Imadaev was in trouble in the first minute after Pereia came into close range with punches. The combination of punches started after he sprung off of the cage, pushing off of it with a leg. Continuing to taunt throughout the fight, Periera connected with slaps and punches throughout. Pereira landed a takedown from the back in the final minute, putting in a rear naked choke from the back that cause the end of the fight. While the referee stopped the bout, it was hard to tell if Imadaev tapped out.
RESULT: Michel Pereira def. Zelim Imadaev via Submission, Rear Naked Choke (RD 3, 4:39)
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Pereira | 10 | 10 | ||
| Imadaev | 9 | 9 |
