Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC 301

Michel Pereira and Ihor Potieria meet Saturday on the UFC 301 main card at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.

Last event: 3-3
UFC main cards, 2024: 31-32-2

Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria UFC 301 preview

Pereira returned to middleweight in 2023 with a bonus-winning 66-second knockout of Andre Petroski … follow-up was a bonus-winning submission of Michał Oleksiejczuk at UFC 299 in just 61 seconds … Pereira has seven straight wins and three straight bonuses … Pereira has not fought in his home country of Brazil since 2018, and never in the UFC … Potieria snapped a two-fight skid in February, but missed weight for the first time in the UFC … the last time Potieria was in Rio de Janeiro, he knocked out Brazilian legend “Shogun” Rua in the first round.

Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria expert pick, prediction

Serving as yet another offering at middleweight is a fight between Michel Pereira and Ihor Potieria. Even Pereira should be fighting higher up the middleweight food chain, the flamboyant Brazilian finds himself in a deceptively risky fight against Potieria.

Despite his awkward grift as “The Duelist,” Potieria is a dangerous southpaw striker with sambo experience in his back pocket. Pereira may be on a hot streak since jumping up to middleweight, but he’ll need to respect both the striking and staying power of Potieria.

Michel Pereira, who faces Ihor Potieria at #UFC301, is officially 3-1 opposite UFC-level southpaws (W: Olekseijczuk, Roberts, Petrovski; L: *Sanchez)

Pereira loves rear front kicks to the body to help set up everything from right hands to flying knees. #TheSouthpawReport pic.twitter.com/WRDnHsAo5r

— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) May 3, 2024

Although I’m tempted to take a flier on Potieria to win by decision, I’ll ultimately pick Pereira to pick up another opportunistic submission in Round 2 after realizing that he may need to rely on his grappling edge in this matchup.

Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria odds

Pereira is a huge 7-1 favorite, according to FanDuel. That makes him the biggest favorite on the entire card.

Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria start time, how to watch

As the second fight on the main card, Pereira and Potieria are expected to make their walk to the octagon around 10:45 p.m. ET. The fight airs on pay-per-view via ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 301.

For more detailed analysis from Dan Tom, check out his weekly show, “The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.”