Preview: UFC 264 Prelims

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Welterweights

NR | Michel Pereira (25-11, 3-2 UFC) vs. NR | Niko Price (14-4, 6-4 UFC)

ODDS: Pereira (-155), Price (+135)

It will be interesting to see if this fight can cash in on its high potential for violence. If nothing else, Price should hold up his end of the bargain, as the Floridian has been a consistent bet for action throughout his UFC career. Within a few UFC fights, it became apparent that Price has a shocking amount of natural power, and his ability to generate that power in unorthodox positions has made him one of the most dangerous fighters on the UFC roster; his 2018 finish of Randy Brown using hammerfists from his back remains a uniquely impressive display that personifies exactly what Price is capable of doing to his opponents. Price has also done a better job of pressing the issue over the years and being more intentional with countering his opponents, but he is still a defensive sieve who can be finished himself. However, it is usually up to his opponents to either absorb a ton of damage or stay evasive until they can get Price to that point. On the other side of things, it is hard to know exactly what to make of Pereira at this point in his career.

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Pereira came into the UFC and was immediately one of the most exciting fighters on the roster. He made his name during a globetrotting career by throwing every flashy and low-percentage strike that came to mind, normally involving some sort of spring-loaded flip or somersault where something much simpler would have been just as effective. His 2019 campaign showed the positives and negatives of this approach. Pereira’s debut win over Danny Roberts was a non-stop highlight reel, but his antics left him absolutely gassed in his sophomore effort—a shocking loss to relative non-athlete Tristan Connelly. While 2020 was mostly a successful year for “Demolidor,” the worry, at least from an entertainment standpoint, is that he is becoming a more effective fighter at the expense of what made him stand out. He still has his moments of flashiness, as his most recent win over Kalinn Williams saw him leverage his speed and athleticism with a much slower and cautious approach, effectively neutralizing his counterpart over the course of three rounds. Price is a more consistently aggressive fighter who should force Pereira into moments of action, but the Brazilian’s speed advantage should allow him to still be effective with a similar game plan. The worry for the Pereira is still that Price can catch him with one huge moment of offense, particularly as “Demolidor” figures to tire as the fight goes on. It may not hit the full-tilt level of violence that some expect, but the pick is for Pereira to take a decision in a fight that has its moments.

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