UFC Rochester video: Michel Pereira ends wild debut with flying knee-punch combo

Michel Pereira entered his UFC debut with the reputation of being somewhat of a wild card. He lived up to that billing and then some.

The 25-year-old Brazilian was already in tears as he made his way down to the Octagon for the first time for his welterweight meeting with Danny Roberts at UFC Rochester. During the pre-fight introductions, Pereira let out even more emotion with an impromptu breakdance routine.

This wasn’t out of character for Pereira, who had developed a reputation overseas as an absolute lunatic. He brought that same energy to his first UFC fight, lunging at Roberts early with a Superman punch before leaping at the cage and bounding off of it as he pursued his opponent.

The unorthodox action only escalated from there and Pereira eventually found a home for a flying knee before driving a straight right into Roberts’s chin for the knockout less than two minutes into round one.

That’s win No. 1 in the UFC for Pereira (23-9, 2 NC) and quite possibly Performance of the Night bonus No. 1 as well.