Michel Pereira Was a +310 Underdog, And the Judges Just Scored It Even Heading Into Round 3
Holy smokes, Emerald City fight fans, if you’re not locked into UFC Baku right now, you are missing out on an absolute barn burner! We all thought Shara "Bullet" Magomedov was gonna roll through Michel Pereira, right? FanDuel had Bullet at a ridiculous -390. But guess what? Pereira, the massive +310 underdog, has just fought his way to a 19-19 score heading into the final round! Nobody expected this to be a toss-up.
Bullet's Hype Train Hits a Wall Early
Coming into this co-main event, Bullet Magomedov was on a mission. The Russian striking specialist, with a 16-1 record, was fresh off a decision win over Marc-Andre Barriault at UFC Abu Dhabi. He hasn't been in the octagon for almost a year, but everyone expected him to chase his sixth UFC win in seven outings. On the other side, we had Michel "Demolidor" Pereira, a near-50-fight veteran aiming for his first win streak since 2024. He clawed his way out of a brutal three-fight losing skid, including two knockout losses, with a split decision win against Zachary Reese in February. His unpredictable style always makes him dangerous, and being pulled apart from Bullet during Friday's physical faceoff just made the drama even better.
Trade on Every Game with Kalshi
Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.
Pereira Drops Bullet in a Stunner
Round one kicked off with Pereira looking light on his feet as Bullet tried to cut off the cage. Pereira landed a jab, Bullet answered with an inside leg kick, and then BAM! A right hand down the middle put Bullet on his back. Commentary confirmed it, that was a knockdown! Pereira followed up with shots, but Bullet recovered. Pereira then went to work from inside guard, wanting to grapple. Referee Herb Dean had to step in and give Bullet a warning for grabbing hair, though no point was taken. Pereira wouldn't let Bullet breathe, one-way traffic. Bullet did manage a sweep with about 30 seconds left, but MMA Fighting scored that round 10-9 for Pereira. Talk about an upset start!
Bullet Finds His Groove to Even the Score
Heading into Round 2, the tension was thick. Pereira was moving back, but he might have been leading the dance. Bullet looked hesitant to throw anything at first, but then he started landing some stuff. A high kick, low kicks, and a push kick started to add up. Pereira wasn't throwing much volume, maybe looking for another knockdown shot, but it just wasn't happening. Bullet landed a glancing counter left, then traded straight punches. Pereira was flicking out a few kicks, but he struggled to find his rhythm this round. No output from him. Bullet tied him up, kept landing, and MMA Fighting saw it too, scoring Round 2 a 10-9 for Bullet. So now, after two rounds, it's all tied up at 19-19!
This fight, which everyone saw as a stepping stone for Bullet, is now anyone's for the taking as we head into Round 3. Bullet needs to finish strong to re-ignite his hype, and Pereira is proving he's still got tricks up his sleeve, potentially halting Bullet's rise under the revised AI-driven UFC rankings. This isn't just a fight, it's a battle for respect in the middleweight division. Get ready, 12s, because this final round is gonna be insane!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.