Former Ultimate Fighting Championship standout Michel Pereira has officially found a new chapter in his professional mixed martial arts career. Following the conclusion of his tenure with the world’s premier MMA organization, the electrifying Brazilian veteran is taking his talents overseas for his next major test.
Pereira is scheduled to step into the cage against South Korean competitor In Su Hwang in a compelling middleweight bout. The matchup will serve as a marquee attraction at Z – Fight Night 5, which is slated to take place on December 19 in Incheon, South Korea. The fast-rising regional promotion is spearheaded by none other than beloved MMA icon Chan Sung Jung, widely celebrated across the global combat sports landscape by his legendary moniker, "The Korean Zombie."
Michel Pereira’s Next Fight Takes Him to South Korea
For Pereira, this upcoming assignment in Incheon marks a significant transition point in a storied and turbulent professional career. With a seasoned professional record of 32 wins, 15 losses, and 2 no-contests, Pereira brings a wealth of high-level experience and a reputation for unpredictable, high-flying offense to the ZFN organization.
Pereira initially completed the primary terms of his multi-fight contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in February, bringing a close to a distinct phase of his promotional run. However, the door remained open for a brief return when he accepted a one-fight agreement to face rising contender Sharabutdin Magomedov. That high-stakes encounter took place at UFC Baku in June. Unfortunately for the Brazilian fan-favorite, the night did not go his way, as he dropped a unanimous decision to Magomedov.
That defeat in June compounded a difficult closing stretch for Pereira inside the Octagon. Having dropped four of his final five appearances under the UFC banner, the veteran fighter found himself navigating the open market as a free agent. While his departure from the global market leader closes a high-profile chapter, it simultaneously opens the door for Pereira to reinvent himself on international soil under the promotional banner of a fellow veteran-led organization.
Standing across the cage from Pereira in Incheon will be In Su Hwang, a formidable regional talent eager to make a statement against an established global name. Hwang enters the December 19 showdown holding a respectable professional record of 9 wins and 2 losses.
Hwang is no stranger to the pressures of high-stakes mixed martial arts competition. Last year, the South Korean middleweight sought to punch his ticket to the premier global stage by appearing on Dana White’s Contender Series, the renowned developmental platform designed to unearth elite talent for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Although Hwang fell short of securing a coveted UFC contract during that appearance, he has wasted little time working to rebuild his momentum on the regional scene.
Demonstrating resilience and finishing instinct, Hwang successfully rebounded from that Contender Series setback by securing a definitive victory. In his most recent outing this past May, Hwang showcased his finishing abilities by stopping his opponent via a technical knockout in the third round. That impressive victory not only restored his winning ways but also positioned him for this high-profile opportunity against a seasoned global veteran like Pereira at Z – Fight Night 5.
As ZFN continues to build its brand and showcase elite regional and international talent under the guidance of Chan Sung Jung, the addition of a Pereira versus Hwang matchup adds substantial intrigue to the promotion’s December calendar. For Pereira, the bout offers a prime platform to halt his recent skid and reassert his status as one of the most dangerous and dynamic middleweights competing outside the UFC. Meanwhile, for Hwang, sharing the cage with a globally recognized veteran provides the ultimate litmus test and a potential springboard toward future international opportunities as Z – Fight Night 5 approaches in Incheon.
