Alex Pereira blames UFC for Michel Pereira's release after Shara fight

Alex Pereira. Image via: Getty Images

The UFC’s decision to release Brazilian middleweight Michel Pereira has sparked strong reactions from fellow fighters. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has publicly criticised the promotion after Michel was removed from the roster following his loss to Shara Magomedov at UFC Baku.

The decision came after Michel’s contract expired, ending his seven-year run with the organisation.Michel Pereira’s exit has also reignited debate about the officiating during his final UFC appearance. Many fans questioned referee Herb Dean’s handling of the contest after several fouls by Magomedov went without a point deduction. Alex Pereira believes those moments had a major impact on the result and ultimately on Michel’s UFC future.

Alex Pereira says Michel Pereira paid the price for controversial officiating

Michel Pereira entered his UFC Baku clash with Shara Magomedov on a one-fight contract. After losing by unanimous decision, the UFC chose not to renew his deal. The 32-year-old finished his UFC career with a 10-6 record. Although he defeated Zach Reese by split decision earlier this year, Michel lost four of his last five fights inside the Octagon.

Alex Pereira did not hide his disappointment after hearing the news.

In a social media post, the former champion suggested Michel should not have lost his place in the promotion because of what he believes was poor officiating. Without directly naming referee Herb Dean, Pereira argued that the mistakes made during the fight carried serious consequences for another athlete’s career.Pereira explained that releasing a fighter under such circumstances was difficult to accept. He suggested that if the UFC had decided to part ways with Michel at another time, it might have been easier to understand.

However, he believed it was unfair for the Brazilian to suffer because of errors made during the bout rather than his own performance.The former UFC champion also urged fellow fighters to pay attention to the situation. He warned that officiating decisions can affect anyone’s career and encouraged athletes not to stay silent when they believe something is wrong. According to Pereira, today’s controversy involving Michel could become another fighter’s problem in the future.The fight itself attracted criticism because Shara Magomedov committed several fouls during the contest. Reports noted incidents involving hair pulling and an eye poke. Herb Dean warned Magomedov more than once but chose not to deduct a point. Following the fight, Michel Pereira also expressed frustration with the officiating. He said MMA has clear rules that should be applied equally to every fighter. In his view, repeated warnings without proper penalties affected the fairness of the contest and influenced the final outcome.Michel joined the UFC in 2019 and quickly became one of the promotion’s most entertaining fighters thanks to his athletic and unpredictable style. During his time with the company, he earned seven post-fight bonuses and also enjoyed an impressive eight-fight winning streak between 2020 and 2024.Although his UFC chapter has ended, Michel Pereira’s exciting fighting style is expected to attract interest from other major MMA organisations.