Pereira Wins Split Decision Over Reese at UFC Houston

Michel Pereira snapped a three-fight losing streak with a controversial split decision victory over fellow middleweight Zachary Reese on Saturday night at UFC Houston, held at the Toyota Center in Texas.

The 32-year-old Brazilian, renowned for his explosive and unorthodox striking, entered the bout on a skid that dated back to May 2024. Prior to the setbacks, Pereira had compiled an eight-fight win streak, including five stoppages, which had positioned him as a rising contender in the division. His recent defeats included a fifth-round technical knockout loss to Anthony Hernandez in the main event of UFC Vegas 99 in October 2024, a unanimous decision to Abus Magomedov in April 2025, and a stunning 43-second knockout by Kyle Daukaus at UFC Shanghai the previous August. Facing Reese, a former training partner from Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Pereira appeared motivated to reclaim momentum in a matchup that carried high stakes for his UFC future.

Reese, a 31-year-old Texan from nearby Shiner representing his home state, brought a 10-3 professional record into the fight, with a 4-2 mark in the UFC. The local favorite had won two of his last three outings, including a second-round...