Sharabutdin Magomedov Calls Out Michel Pereira for UFC Saudi Arabia Bout

Sharabutdin Magomedov blames Michel Pereira for disrupting his upcoming fight.

Magomedov was originally scheduled to fight Ihor Potieria at UFC Saudi Arabia on June 22. However, Potieria replaced an injured Makhmud Muradov against Michel Pereira at UFC 301 on May 4. Potieria was submitted by Pereira in under a minute, which also resulted in a medical suspension for the Ukrainian middleweight until August.

The fight was not without controversy, as Pereira came dangerously close to landing an illegal knee against his opponent after he backflipped into top position. After a review, it was determined that Pereira did not commit a foul in that moment. However, “The Duelist” has since protested the outcome.

“Hey everyone… Friends, thank you very much for your support, I appreciate it and am very grateful to you. I’m also very grateful to the haters for not forgetting and supporting me as much as possible, I appreciate that too. It’s a shame that I couldn’t even show my skills and show what I’m capable of. Sometimes s—t happens at the worst time for us. Yes, it’s not pleasant, but this too will pass. This is my way. I thank God for everything as it is, everything is God’s will,” Potieiria wrote on Instagram.

“Another lesson for me that you need to go at your own pace, and not go to substitutes. I’m in a hurry all the time and only make it worse for myself. In two and a half weeks I lost 17 kilograms, the last 3 kg were very difficult for me, I gave all my strength to the weight loss. What also bought me was that in the gym in America I didn’t feel this guy at all during sparring, I just destroyed him, and here I didn’t even have time to prove myself. All I remember is the forbidden flying knee to my head when I was lying on my back, after which I don’t even remember how I got up, probably an instinct of self-preservation. Three well-known athletic commissions in America said it was a disqualification, but the fight was in Brazil, so we’ll see what the Rio de Janeiro athletic commission says about it, because at first they also wanted to make a disqualification.

“I accept everything that is offered to me and I want everything to be fair. Of course, everyone only sees a cool somersault, but once again the rules are broken against me during a fight and I don’t want this to go unpunished again. So I’m waiting for news... One day we will meet again and the result of our fight will be completely different, Just give me time to fully prepare! P.S. The ways of the Lord are mysterious. One day I will definitely achieve my dream and become the UFC middleweight champion, I believe that I am capable of it, even if it sounds funny to you now.”

With Potieria out of UFC Saudi Arabia, Magomedov has now called out Pereira as a replacement, also mentioning the controversial moment at UFC 301.

“You damn acrobat, I lost my opponent because of you,” Magomedov wrote on his Instagram stories. “Everyone knows that you can do backflips now, but UFC is not a circus. You made an illegal move, and now you have to punished. Let us kick him out of the rankings and let me deal with this clown. Ship him to Saudi Arabia on June 22nd and I will board him.”

Meanwhile, Pereira has reportedly been booked against teammate Roman Dolidze at UFC Louisville on June 8. However, “Demolidor” claims to have turned down the offer, although Dolidze accepted the fight.