Michel Pereira and Zach Reese kick off the UFC Fight Night 267 main card Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
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Last event’s results: 5-1
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UFC main cards, 2026: 11-5
Michel Pereira vs. Zach Reese UFC Fight Night 267 preview
Pereira (31-14 MMA, 9-5 UFC) will look to end a recent run of bad results. He enters on a three-fight skid, which includes losses to Anthony Hernandez, Abus Magomedov and Kyle Daukaus. The flashy striker’s last win was a first-round submission of Ihor Potieria at UFC 301.
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Reese (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) comes in on the heels of two wins and a no contest since his last setback. Last May he won a decision over Dusko Todorovic, saw a bout against Sedriques Dumas end early due to an accidental foul in September, and closed out the year with a second-round submission of Jackson McVey in November.
Michel Pereira vs. Zach Reese UFC Fight Night 267 expert pick, prediction
Fulfilling the UFC matchmakers’ favorite fetish of force-feeding us as many middleweight fights as possible on main cards is a matchup between Zach Reese and Michel Pereira.
It’s not a pairing I ever saw happening, and I suspect that the fighters feel the same considering that Reese and Pereira have spent the last year or so in the same training room as each other via Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas.
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So, between the former training partner factor and the glass-cannon sensibilities on both sides, I believe this is an incredibly volatile fight to forecast.
I’ll officially side with Pereira, given both his superior experience and propensity to work the body, but Reese will be willing to oblige his Brazilian foe every step of the way.
The pick is Pereira by club and sub in Round 1.
Michel Pereira vs. Zach Reese UFC Fight Night 267 odds
The oddsmakers and the public favor the Brazilian fighter, listing Perreira -160 and Reese +130 via FanDuel.
Michel Pereira vs. Zach Reese UFC Fight Night 267 start time, how to watch
As the main card opener, Pereira and Reese are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 8:10 p.m. ET. The fight streams live on Paramount+.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Houston: Michel Pereira vs. Zach Reese prediction, start time
