Preview: UFC Fight Night 183 Main Card

Welterweights

NR | Michel Pereira (24-11, 2-2 UFC) vs. NR | Kalinn Williams (11-1, 2-0 UFC)

ODDS: Pereira (-130), Williams (+110)

Beyond the guaranteed action, there is some potential for each of these men to keep moving up the welterweight ladder. Pereira signing with the UFC in 2019 was a pleasant surprise, if only because fighters this strange do not usually make it to the Octagon. Pereira is as committed to entertainment over effectiveness as anyone in recent memory. A shredded athlete, the Brazilian basically jumps off the cage, backflips and everything in between for as long as his gas tank can handle; and that last bit is an important qualifier. Even on the regional scene, Pereira lost fights that he often had no business losing just because his opponents managed to stay out of danger until he tired himself out. After an embarrassing loss to Tristan Connelly to close out 2019, Pereira in 2020 has shown much more of a balance between getting the win and putting on a show. It is funny to say that when it includes his last bout against Zelim Imadaev, as Pereira still managed to find time to both taunt and dance on his way to a decision win. However, “Demolidor” has done a better job of leveraging his size and athletic burst to outfox opponents and consistently keep them at a distance.

On the other side of the equation, Williams has provided excitement in his own right, albeit with a much more serious approach. Prior to his late-notice UFC debut, Williams looked like an interesting prospect but not one who was particularly ready for primetime. “The Oxfighter” showed some poise and a well-rounded game in flashes, but he was all-too content to devolve into a wild brawler as soon as his opponent tried to take him out of his comfort zone. Add in that Williams had not yet gotten much of a step up in competition, and he figured to face a steep learning curve on the UFC roster. Williams has certainly overachieved thus far. His Octagon career has lasted all of 57 seconds, but knockout wins over normally durable opponents in Alex Morono and Abdul Razak Alhassan show that, if nothing else, Williams has some rare knockout power. Pereira is a whole other kettle of fish, however, so it will be interesting to see how the Michigander approaches this one.

Given that Pereira is involved, this figures to be entertaining in one manner or another, but again, it will be interesting to see how Williams approaches the fight. Outside of Alhassan, who got immediately knocked out, Pereira is by far the most impressive athletic specimen that Williams has faced to date, and the Brazilian figures to be much more elusive, at least during the beginning stretches of the fight. If Williams’ pre-UFC footage consisted entirely of brawls, it would be easy to see him as a fighter that Pereira can frustrate and finish before he ever truly gets on track. However, there are enough moments of patience and poise that Williams can probably take some time and figure this out. Assuming Williams does not get knocked out early—a possibility, given the untested nature of his durability inside of the UFC—that patience should result in Pereira opening up more and more as the fight goes on. Even with his more relatively intelligent approach, Pereira still finds himself getting much wilder as a victory gets closer into view. If he starts providing openings for a huge counter, that creates a perfect situation for Williams to find a finish. The pick is Williams via third-round knockout.

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