Michel Pereira On Slapping Zelim Imadaev: “I Told Him I Would Pay Him Back”
A victorious Pereira landed a slap to the head of Imadaev in the third round of their fight, which Pereira said was payback for Imadaev’s action during the UFC Vegas 9 weigh-ins.
“I don’t know why exactly he did this, but I told him I would pay him back, and I did in the fight,” Pereira said after the event (via Steven Marrocco of MMA Fighting). “I’m a man – you cannot slap my face.”
The fight between Pereira and Imadaev ended in controversy, as Imadaev claimed that he didn’t tap out to the bout ending rear naked choke.
Imadaev says he didn’t feel the tap to the rear naked choke that eventually ended the fight in round three, but Pereira says he would’ve put Imadaev to sleep if the bout continued on.
“I didn’t feel when he tapped, but the position was very, very tight,” he said. “So in that case, he would tap or he would sleep.”
Pereira has now won two of four under the UFC baner, which Imadaev is in the midst of a three fight losing streak.
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