Michel Pereira is not a UFC welterweight that is scared of Khamzat Chimaev. The Brazilian is known for his fun stand-up style that includes many spinning attacks and unorthodox striking.

Michel Pereira was recently on MMA Fighting’s Portuguese-language podcast Trocação Franca, where he talked about the hyped UFC welterweight. He believes Gilbert Burns will bring out the ‘real' Khamzat Chimaev.

“I don’t think he’s this monster people have created,” Pereira said. “We’ll see the real Chimaev in the ‘Durinho’ fight. That’s when we’ll see who’s the real Chimaev. But us, fighters, we kind of see who’s who a little bit. He might surprise, but he’s not [that better] than Durinho. Chimaev is good, but he hasn’t faced top competition yet. I wanna see if he’s that man against Durinho. But I don’t see all that danger people talk about.”

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
khamzat chimaev's net worth

Bailey Bassett ·

Robert Whittaker saying: ‘This is my path’ next to Khamzat Chimaev in front of the UFC logo

Fremont Farkas ·

Pereira Oleksiejczuk prediction

Dominik Zawartko ·

Khamzat Chimaev is known for his suffocating ground game coupled with his constant pressure. Michel Pereira expects his striking to be exposed at UFC 273 in April.

“[Chimaev] has great wrestling, of course,” UFC welterweight Pereira said. “But I don’t think his striking is that big of a deal. He fought guys and went there like crazy… I fight for entertainment, to put on a show for the fans. For me, to go there and end the fight in a minute or two, I don’t like this. If it happens, cool, but it’s not my [thing]. I like to go to the second and third rounds. But I don’t think Chimaev is this monster. No. All day, every day, when [they] want [me to fight him], I’m in.”

“He’s good, but he won’t do [the same thing to Burns],” the UFC welterweight continued. “The thing is, he has great wrestling, he trains wrestling since he’s a kid, and I think wrestling is one of the best weapons [in MMA]. When the guy has good wrestling, brother, it’s a problem. But I don’t think… I’ll give you the example of Khabib’s cousin [Islam Makhachev]. They have incredible wrestling but to box on the feet, they will trade, but it’s not that great. They might get the knockout because it’s a fight, cool, but they aren’t great. They are fucking great in wrestling, and everybody fighting them knows that. You have to respect them.”