Pereira Books First Fight Since UFC Exit

Michel Pereira has locked in his first bout since parting ways with the UFC, signing on to meet Contender Series veteran In Su Hwang at middleweight on Dec. 19.

The fight headlines Chan Sung Jung's ZFN promotion, according to MMA Fighting. ZFN 5 streams live on UFC Fight Pass. Pereira became a free agent in June after dropping a decision to Shara Magomedov in a match marred by controversy — Magomedov repeatedly grabbed Pereira's hair during grappling exchanges with no intervention from referee Herb Dean.

The 33-year-old Brazilian is returning to familiar territory. Pereira went 3-0 with three knockout finishes under the Road FC banner in South Korea before his UFC run, building momentum that eventually earned him a spot in the octagon. He compiled a 10-6 record across two weight classes in the UFC, with wins over Khaos Williams, Santiago Ponzinibbio, Michał Oleksiejczuk and Niko Price.

Hwang, a former Road FC middleweight champion, most recently stopped Bellator and PFL veteran Alex Polizzi in the third round at ZFN's May card. The 32-year-old appeared on Dana White's Contender Series in 2025 but fell short in a decision loss to Paddy McCorry.

The bout sits atop a card that also features former UFC fighter Edson Barboza, who booked a battle match against Rashid Magomedov for ACBJJ 23 on Nov. 13, per MMA Fighting. Barboza retired from the UFC in August after four straight losses but will compete under modified rules that permit strikes and submissions with only blows above the collarbone prohibited.