UFC welterweight Michel Pereira has a wild, wild, wild fight and it was on full display vs. Zelim Imadaev at Saturday's UFC on ESPN+ 34. At one point, Pereira danced, kissed his right palm, and then slapped Imadaev in the face with it.
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1302416321687281674
As he explained at the post-fight press conference, that was payback for this.
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1301947671029178370
“I don’t know why exactly he did this, but I told him I would pay him back, and I did in the fight,” explained Pereira, as transcribed by Steven Marrocco for MMA Fighting. “I’m a man – you cannot slap my face.”
“I showed my hand, I kissed my hand and I slapped him so he can learn he’s not going to do it again. He cannot do that.”
Pereira also commented on the fight stoppage. There was no doubt who was going to win, but referee Chris Tognoni stopped it after Imadaev did ... something.
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1302417886397583360
“I didn’t feel when he tapped, but the position was very, very tight,” said Pereira. “So in that case, he would tap or he would sleep.”
Pereira also discussed what he wants next.
“Jorge Masvidal, be ready,” said Pereira, as transcribed by Danny Segura and Ken Hathaway for MMA Junkie. "I want to fight the best. I train very hard to do that and I train with some of the best. I want to fight the best and Jorge Masvidal is one of them. He’s a guy that I want to fight against. I think people would find it to be a great fight, a big fight, and it would give a show to all the UFC fans and the world.”
Pereira said he'd slap Masival too, under the same conditions
“If he disrespects me, yeah,” said Pereira. “I want to fight with him and do a great fight, and with that, the fans of the UFC and MMA – they would enjoy a great show and a great fight. I want to fight him.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rvo9k-SvS8
The UFC is currently trying to rematch Masvidal with Nate Diaz. It's not known if the "one-and-done" Baddest Mother F***er belt will be on the line. But, UG, what do you think of Pereira vs. Masvidal UG?