Michel Pereira’s Nickname ‘Demolidor’: Meaning & Story Behind the UFC Star’s Moniker

With seven wins on the trot, Brazilian star Michel Pereira is coming back in action this weekend at UFC 301. But we are not going to emphasize on his upcoming fight. Instead, today we will take a look at another aspect of Pereira’s fighting career: the story behind his nickname, ‘demolisher‘.

Michel Pereira belongs to the bunch of Brazilian fighters who are currently and actively competing in various weight classes in Dana White‘s promotion. As such, his nickname is a word in Portuguese, which is his native language as well. Let’s explore the meaning of Pereira’s nickname.

Why is Michel Pereira called the ‘Demolidor’?

If you are guessing that ‘Demolidor’ sounds similar to an English word, you are right. This word in Portuguese means demolisher. Michel Pereira’s nickname is an ode to his unusual fighting style. Unlike some fights that fans term as being “snoozefests,” the 30-year-old Brazilian has been consistent in putting up some of the most exciting performances, which include aerial maneuvers and a fast-paced offensive style, distinguishing him from the other fighters in the whole roster.

It wasn’t Michel Pereira who gave himself this nickname, rather it was one of his friends who gave him that moniker, believing that it suited him better than anyone else he knew. But talking about his unique and one-of-a-kind fighting style, how did Pereira come to develop such an unusual style? Let’s take a deeper dive on that side of the story.

The tale behind Pereira’s unique fighting style

Since the beginning of his MMA career, Michel Pereira has performed some unexpected and difficult moves on his opponents in different fights. Those moves are pretty unconventional, to say the least. The backflips and other numerous unusual attacking moves are key characteristics of Pereira’s fighting style. When he sat down with the UFC media team to have a conversation, ‘Demolidor’ revealed that these moves are a part of his innate behavior. He never tried to develop this kind of style

“It’s just my style; it’s what I feel in my heart and in my head, and it’s the way that I like to fight,” Michel Pereira explained. Furthermore, the Brazilian ace also mentioned that he seeks to be creative with his offensive tactics, and he doesn’t give it a thought because it happens by itself like an instinct. “I like to perform in a way that is unique and I don’t think about it — it’s just the way that I compete,” the 30-year-old added.

Michel Pereira has won both of his last two fights, which took place at middleweight, and he will be fighting Ihor Potieria in another bout. It remains to be seen if he tramples his opponent this week to inch a little closer to getting a title shot in the future.