Shara Magomedov edges Michel Pereira In tactical UFC Baku co-main event. Before Rafael Fiziev and Manuel Torres took center stage, the co-main event had already captured the attention of fight fans around the world. On Saturday, June 27 Shara “Bullet” Magomedov and Michel Pereira stepped into the Octagon carrying different stories but sharing the same goal which was to to make a statement.
Shara Magomedov experienced the first loss of his professional MMA career when he dropped a unanimous decision to Michael “Venom” Page in February 2025. The defeat raised questions about how the Russian striker would respond. His answer came in emphatic fashion. In his next appearance, Magomedov bounced back with a hard-fought victory over Marc-André Barriault, reminding fans why he remains one of the UFC’s most promising middleweight prospects. Now fighting close to home in Baku, Magomedov has the opportunity to build another winning streak in front of a passionate crowd.
Michel Pereira’s recent journey has been far more turbulent. The Brazilian suffered consecutive defeats to Anthony Hernandez at UFC Vegas 99, Abus Magomedov, and Kyle Daukaus, a difficult stretch that threatened to derail his rise in the middleweight division. However, Pereira returned to winning ways earlier this year with a split-decision victory over Zachary Reese, ending his three-fight skid and restoring some much-needed confidence heading into UFC Baku. A victory over Magomedov would have marked his biggest win in recent years and could immediately put him back in the conversation among the division’s top contenders.
The fight started and Pereira established his jab early, Magomedov responded with a sharp inside leg kick. Moments later, Pereira landed a clean right hand straight down the middle that sent Magomedov to the canvas. There was a doubt whether it was a true knockdown or if Magomedov had simply lost his balance. Pereira followed up with several solid strikes as Magomedov quickly regained his composure. According to the commentary team, the sequence was officially scored as a knockdown, leaving Magomedov with no choice but to work harder. As the action continued on the ground, the referee stepped in to warn Magomedov for grabbing Pereira’s hair, though no point was deducted. Pereira maintained top position inside Magomedov’s guard and controlled the action. While he wasn’t landing many heavy shots, he dictated the pace and gave Magomedov little room to breathe. To Magomedov’s credit, he stayed patient and managed to sweep Pereira with about 30 seconds remaining in the round. Pereira immediately tightened his guard from the bottom and safely saw out the closing seconds of a dominant opening round.
As the second round began, Pereira spent much time moving backward, though he still appeared to be controlling the pace. Magomedov remained cautious, hesitant to overcommit, but found success with a well-timed head kick. He also continued to score with low kicks and a solid push kick. Pereira wasn’t throwing much volume either, but was waiting for another clean counter that could produce a knockdown. Magomedov landed a glancing counter left as Pereira flicked out a few kicks, but the Brazilian struggled to find his rhythm throughout the round. The two exchanged straight punches midway through the round, with Magomedov landing the cleaner shots as Pereira tried to close the distance. Pereira’s output remained noticeably low, allowing Magomedov to edge the striking exchanges before tying him up in the closing moments.
The final round was up for grabs as both fighters looked to do enough to earn the judges’ nod. Magomedov opened with a few light kicks to score, while Pereira answered with a jab to the body. The action slowed considerably, with both men spending long stretches sizing each other up. Magomedov then landed a slick overhand right before Pereira telegraphed a double-leg attempt that was easily defended. Moments later, an accidental eye poke from Pereira forced a brief stoppage, giving both fighters time to recover. When the action resumed, Pereira connected with a pair of outside leg kicks and followed with a right hand as he tried to increase the pressure. Magomedov responded with a crisp one-two combination. Pereira shot for another takedown just as Magomedov launched a flying knee, but neither fighter gained an advantage as they ended up clinched against the fence. With time winding down, Magomedov landed a clean body kick to cap off the round. It appeared to be enough to edge the final five minutes, as Pereira offered little offense throughout the round, while the unpenalized fouls also remained a talking point.
Speaking through a Russian translator, Magomedov described the fight as just another step toward bigger goals. “I’m coming for that belt. I’m going to win the title.”
Main Card
Rafael Fiziev def. Manuel Torres via KO (spin kick, punches) (R2, 0:15)
Shara Bullet def. Michel Pereira via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Matheus Camilo def. Nazim Sadykhov via TKO (strikes) (R1, 1:31)
Asu Almabayev def. Charles Johnson via submission (Suloev Stretch) (R3, 3:33)
Ikram Aliskerov def. Brunno Ferreira via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Abus Magomedov def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via submission (guillotine choke) (R1, 3:25)
Preliminary Card
Farman Hasanov def. Eric Nolan via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Julius Walker via KO (punch) (R1, 0:08)
Nursulton Ruziboev def. Andrey Pulyaev via submission (rear-naked choke) (R1, 3:58)
Kaan Ofli def. Javier Reyes via submission (arm-triangle choke) (R1, 4:16)
Daniil Donchenko def. Theodor Berggren via TKO (strikes) (R2, 1:35)
Jean Matsumoto def. Bekzat Almakhan via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Tahir Abdullayev def. Jefferson Nascimento via TKO (strikes) (R3, 4:28)
