Michel Prazeres

Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter
69+1⁄2 in (177 cm)Fighting out ofBelém, Pará, BrazilTeamFrankiko Team / Trator TeamRank2nd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2] under Ricardo de la Riva[3]Years active2000–presentMixed martial arts recordTotal32Wins27By knockout1By submission11By decision15Losses5By submission1By decision4 Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: December 19, 2013

Michel Richard Cunha dos Prazeres[1] (born July 25, 1981) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who fights in the Welterweight division. He most notably fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Mixed martial arts career

Early MMA career

Prazeres began training MMA at age 12 when he watched his inspiration, Bruce Lee. His MMA career began in 2000, when he won his debut fight by submission. He went on to win his first six fights straight via stoppage. Prazeres built up an undefeated record of 16–0 competing in local and regional promotions across his native Brazil before signing with the UFC in early 2013.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Upon signing with the UFC, Prazeres made his promotional debut as a short notice injury replacement on May 18, 2013, against Paulo Thiago at UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold.[4] Prazeres lost the fight by unanimous decision, giving him his first career loss.

Prazeres next fought Jesse Ronson on September 21, 2013, at UFC 165.[5] He won the fight by a close split decision.[6] It was his first fight outside of his native Brazil.

Prazeres faced Mairbek Taisumov on March 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 38, replacing the injured Gleison Tibau.[7] He won the fight by dominant unanimous decision. Taisumov had multiple point deductions and the fight ended up being scored (30-25, 30-25, 30-25) in favor of Prazeres.[8]

Prazeres faced Kevin Lee on February 14, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 60.[9] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[10]

Prazeres faced Valmir Lázaro on November 21, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale.[11] He won the fight by split decision.[12]

Prazeres was expected to face Anthony Rocco Martin on July 23, 2016, at UFC on Fox 20.[13] However, Martin pulled out of the fight in early July citing a neck injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer J.C. Cottrell.[14] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[15]

Prazeres next faced Gilbert Burns on September 24, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 95.[16] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[17]

Prazeres faced Josh Burkman on March 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 106.[18] He won the fight via submission in the first round.[19] The win also earned Prazeres his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[20]

Prazeres was expected to face Islam Makhachev on September 2, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 115.[21] However, Makhachev pulled out of the fight in mid-August citing injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Mads Burnell.[22] At the weigh ins, Prazeres missed the lightweight limit of 156 pounds, coming in at 159 pounds. As a result his bout with Mads Burnell was changed to a catchweight and Prazeres was fined 20% of his purse.[23] Prazeres won the fight by submission in the third round.[24]

Prazeres faced Desmond Green on February 3, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 125.[25] At the weigh-ins Prazeres weighed in at 161 pounds, 5 pounds over the lightweight non title fight upper limit of 156 pounds. As a result, the bout proceeded at a catchweight and Prazeres was fined 20 percent of his purse to Green.[26] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[27]

Prazeres faced Zak Cummings on May 19, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 129.[28] He won the back-and-forth fight via split decision.[29]

Prazeres faced Bartosz Fabiński on November 17, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 140.[30] He won the fight via guillotine choke submission in the first round.[31]

Prazeres was scheduled to face Ramazan Emeev at UFC Fight Night 145.[32] However, on February 4, 2019, it was reported that Emeev pulled out of the fight, citing injury.[33] He was replaced by newcomer Ismail Naurdiev.[34] Prazeres lost the fight by unanimous decision.[35]

On February 11, 2020, news surfaced that Prazeres tested positive for anabolic agents in two out-of-competition samples on March 9, 2019. Prazeres was handed a two-year ban, making him eligible to return to competition on March 9, 2021.[36]

Prazeres faced Shavkat Rakhmonov on June 26, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 190.[37] He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke in round two.[38]

On December 14, 2021, it was announced that Prazeres had asked for his release from the UFC.[39]

On December 23, 2021, it was announced that Prazeres had accepted a 4 year USADA ban after four different urine samples all tested positive for the banned substances clomiphene and its metabolites (desethyl-clomiphene, clomiphene M1, and clomiphene M2), oxandrolone metabolites, and the exogenous administration of testosterone and/or its precursors in four different out-of-competition tests between Aug. 27 and Nov. 2. Prazeres will be eligible to compete again on Aug. 27, 2025, four years from the date of the initial positive sample.[40] After receiving the suspension, Prazeres briefly decided to retire from MMA, but changed his mind after discovering that USADA can’t stop him from competing in several countries, including Brazil. Prazeres blamed the positive tests on fertility treatment due to his wife having trouble conceiving.[41]

Post UFC

In his first appearance post UFC, Prazeres faced Stefan Negucić for SBC Welterweight Championship on September 9, 2022, at Serbian Battle Championship 44. He won the bout via unanimous decision.[42][43]

Absolute Championship Akhmat

Prazeres faced Abubakar Vagaev on September 2, 2023 at ACA 162 as part of the 2023 ACA Welterweight Grand Prix, losing the bout via unanimous decision.[44]

Personal life

Prazeres has a son.[45]

Before his bout against Desmond Green at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Anders, Prazeres's brother Edson Amaral dos Prazeres was killed in an accident in Belem less than two weeks before the fight and week before that, his wife Cassia Andrade dos Prazeres had to undergo surgery a second time for curettage after suffering a miscarriage on Jan. 1st.[46]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
32 matches 27 wins 5 losses
By knockout 1 0
By submission 11 1
By decision 15 4
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 27–5 Abubakar Vagaev Decision (unanimous) ACA 162: Tumenov vs. Palmer September 2, 2023 5 5:00 Krasnodar, Russia 2023 ACA Welterweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final.
Win 27–4 Stefan Negucić Decision (unanimous) Serbian Battle Championship 44 September 9, 2022 3 5:00 Belgrade, Serbia Won SBC Welterweight Championship.
Loss 26–4 Shavkat Rakhmonov Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov June 26, 2021 2 2:10 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 26–3 Ismail Naurdiev Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Santos February 23, 2019 3 5:00 Prague, Czech Republic
Win 26–2 Bartosz Fabiński Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio November 17, 2018 1 1:02 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Win 25–2 Zak Cummings Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman May 19, 2018 3 5:00 Santiago, Chile Return to Welterweight.
Win 24–2 Desmond Green Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Anders February 3, 2018 3 5:00 Belém, Brazil Catchweight (161 lb) bout; Prazeres missed weight.
Win 23–2 Mads Burnell Submission (north-south choke) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve September 2, 2017 3 1:26 Rotterdam, Netherlands Catchweight (159 lb) bout; Prazeres missed weight.
Win 22–2 Josh Burkman Submission (north-south choke) UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Gastelum March 11, 2017 1 1:42 Fortaleza, Brazil Performance of the Night.
Win 21–2 Gilbert Burns Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Länsberg September 24, 2016 3 5:00 Brasília, Brazil Catchweight (158 lb) bout; Prazeres missed weight.
Win 20–2 J.C. Cottrell Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Holm vs. Shevchenko July 23, 2016 3 5:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 19–2 Valmir Lázaro Decision (split) The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale: Magny vs. Gastelum November 21, 2015 3 5:00 Monterrey, Mexico
Loss 18–2 Kevin Lee Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch February 14, 2015 3 5:00 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win 18–1 Mairbek Taisumov Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson 2 March 23, 2014 3 5:00 Natal, Brazil
Win 17–1 Jesse Ronson Decision (split) UFC 165 September 21, 2013 3 5:00 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Lightweight debut.
Loss 16–1 Paulo Thiago Decision (unanimous) UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold May 18, 2013 3 5:00 Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil
Win 16–0 Leandro Batata Decision (unanimous) Shooto Brazil 30 June 2, 2012 3 5:00 Belém, Brazil
Win 15–0 Sérgio Leal Submission (rear-naked choke) Jungle Fight 37 March 31, 2012 1 1:49 São Paulo, Brazil
Win 14–0 André Luis Lobato Decision (unanimous) Iron Man Championship 6 June 10, 2010 3 5:00 Belém, Brazil
Win 13–0 Antônio Carlos Ribeiro Submission (triangle choke) Midway Fight June 26, 2008 1 N/A Belém, Brazil
Win 12–0 Frederick Samurai Decision (unanimous) Mega Champion Fight 2 November 10, 2007 3 5:00 Manaus, Brazil
Win 11–0 Valter de Menezes Decision (unanimous) Predador FC 5 April 21, 2007 3 5:00 São Paulo, Brazil
Win 10–0 Gabriel Santos Decision (unanimous) Macapa Verdadeiro Vale Tudo March 22, 2007 3 5:00 Macapá, Brazil
Win 9–0 Anderson Banana Submission (rear-naked choke) Predador FC 4 January 25, 2007 1 N/A São Paulo, Brazil
Win 8–0 Edilson Florêncio Decision (unanimous) Midway Fight October 5, 2006 3 5:00 Belém, Brazil
Win 7–0 Ari dos Santos Decision (unanimous) Ilha Combat July 1, 2006 3 5:00 Macapá, Brazil
Win 6–0 Luis Neto Submission (punches) Iron Man Vale Tudo 7 June 11, 2005 1 4:16 Macapá, Brazil
Win 5–0 Elias Monteiro TKO (punches) Super Vale Tudo Ananindeua April 14, 2004 1 1:17 Ananindeua, Brazil
Win 4–0 Cleber Santana Submission (choke) Super Vale Tudo Ananindeua September 12, 2003 2 2:22 Ananindeua, Brazil
Win 3–0 Rogério Gama Submission (rear-naked choke) Desafio de Gigantes March 21, 2003 1 3:47 Macapá, Brazil
Win 2–0 Sérgio de Oliveira Submission (rear-naked choke) Desafio de Gigantes March 21, 2003 1 2:13 Macapá, Brazil
Win 1–0 Sandro Lyon Submission (rear-naked choke) Open Fight Vale Tudo 2 October 9, 2000 1 3:58 Belém, Brazil

[48]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Mixed martial arts show results Date: June 26, 2021
  2. ^ "Michel Prazeres - Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  3. ^ Marcelo Barone (February 1, 2018). "Batalhão de amigos: Michel Trator veste a farda e visita tropa antes do UFC Belém". Globo.com (in Portuguese).
  4. ^ "Michel Prazeres vs. Paulo Thiago official for UFC on FX 8, lineup again complete". mmajunkie.com. May 3, 2013.
  5. ^ "UFC 165: Jesse Ronson vs. Michel Prazeres booked for Sept. 21 in Toronto with Mark Bocek hurt". mmamania.com. August 23, 2013.
  6. ^ "UFC 165 results and photos: Michel Prazeres grinds out split vs. Jesse Ronson". mmajunkie.com. September 21, 2013.
  7. ^ "Gleison Tibau Out of UFC Fight Night 38, Mairbek Taisumov Now Faces Michel Prazeres". mmaweekly.com. February 19, 2014.
  8. ^ "UFC Fight Night 38 results: Michel Prazeres dominates Mairbek Taisumov for upset". mmajunkie.com. March 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Jason Floyd (January 1, 2015). "Three fights made official for UFC Fight Night 60". themmareport.com. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  10. ^ Damon Martin (2015-02-14). "Kevin Lee pushes past Michel Prazeres for 3rd straight win". foxsports.com. Retrieved 2015-02-14.
  11. ^ Staff (2015-08-26). "UFC Fight Night 78 adds Valmir Lazaro vs. Michel Prazeres". themmareport.com. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  12. ^ Ben Fowlkes (2015-11-21). "UFC Fight Night 78 results: Michel Prazeres gets questionable split call from Valmir Lazaro". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  13. ^ Chris Sosa (2016-04-28). "UFC adds lightweight bout to United Center fight card". redeyechicago.com. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  14. ^ Tristen Critchfield (2016-07-12). "UFC on Fox 20 update: Cottrell to make debut vs. Prazeres in Chicago". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  15. ^ Ben Fowlkes (2016-07-23). "UFC on FOX 20 results: Michel Prazeres grinds way to decision win over J.C. Cottrell". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-07-23.
  16. ^ Staff (2016-08-04). "Gilbert Burns vs. Michel Prazeres added to UFC Fight Night 95 in Brazil". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  17. ^ Steven Marrocco (2016-09-24). "UFC Fight Night 95 results: Michel Prazeres goes to judges again, sweeps Gilbert Burns". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
  18. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2016-12-29). "Josh Burkman vs. Michel Prazeres added to UFC Fight Night card in Brazil". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  19. ^ Ben Fowlkes (2017-03-11). "UFC Fight Night 106 results: Michel Prazeres cruises past Josh Burkman for easy submission". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  20. ^ Staff (2017-03-12). "UFC Fight Night 106 bonuses: With no 'Fight of Night,' who took home the 4 performance honors?". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  21. ^ Staff (2017-06-30). "Trio of fights set for UFC's return to Rotterdam". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  22. ^ "Michel Prazeres meets newcomer Mads Burnell, not Islam Makhachev, at UFC Fight Night 115". MMAjunkie. 2017-08-13. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  23. ^ "One Fighter Misses Weight By 3-Pounds At UFC Rotterdam". MMAUNO.COM. 2017-09-01. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  24. ^ "UFC-Rotterdam results: Michel Prazeres earns north-south choke finish of newcomer Mads Burnell". MMAjunkie. 2017-09-02. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  25. ^ Max Freedman (2017-12-21). "Belém's own Michel Prazeres gets hometown bout against Des Green". mma-today.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  26. ^ "UFC Fight Night 125 weigh-ins: Eryk Anders on mark on second try, but two miss (updated)". MMAjunkie. 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2018-02-03.
  27. ^ "UFC Fight Night 125 results: After massive weight miss, Michel Prazeres cruises past Desmond Green". MMAjunkie. 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  28. ^ "UFC encaminha duelo entre Michel Trator e Zak Cummings no Chile, no meio-médio". Sportv (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  29. ^ "UFC Fight Night 129 results: Michel Prazeres moves up in weight, takes split over Zak Cummings". MMAjunkie. 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
  30. ^ Matheus Costa (2018-09-04). "Michel Tractor faces Bartosz Fabinski at UFC Fight Night 140" (in Portuguese). mmabrasil.com.br. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  31. ^ "UFC Argentina results: Michel Prazeres steamrolls Bartosz Fabinski in just 62 seconds". MMAjunkie. 2018-11-18. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  32. ^ Oleś, Bartosz (2018-12-26). "Doniesienia: Michel Prazeres vs. Ramazan Emeev dodane na rozpiskę UFC on ESPN+3 w Pradze". InTheCage.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  33. ^ Marcelo Barone. "Ramazan Emeev deixa o card do UFC Praga, e Michel Trator aguarda novo adversário" (in Breton). sportv. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  34. ^ "Ultimate escala Ismail Naurdiev para a luta contra Michel Trator no UFC Praga, dia 23 de fevereiro". Sportv (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  35. ^ "UFC Prague results: Newcomer Ismail Naurdiev shocks exhausted Michel Prazeres". MMAjunkie. 2019-02-23. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
  36. ^ Alexander K. Lee (February 11, 2020). "Michel Prazeres accepts two-year USADA sanction after testing positive for anabolic agent". mmafighting.com.
  37. ^ Staff (2021-04-02). "UFC's Michel Prazeres returns in June vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  38. ^ Behunin, Alex (2021-06-26). "UFC Vegas 30 Results: Shavkat Rakhmonov Becomes First Man To Finish Michel Prazeres". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  39. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-12-14). "Michel Prazeres no longer on UFC roster: 'I asked to be released'". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  40. ^ "Michel Prazeres Accepts Sanction for Second Violation of UFC Anti-Doping Policy". USADA.
  41. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-12-23). "Michel Prazeres blasts USADA, says positive test a result of fertility treatment: 'F*ck them'". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  42. ^ "Fight Site - Predrag Bogdanović i dalje je neporažen; Stefan Negucić nije uspio poraziti iskusnog Prazeresa". fightsite.hr (in Croatian). 2022-09-10. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  43. ^ Sherdog.com. "SBC 44 - Serbian Battle Championship 44: Revenge". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  44. ^ "Абубакар Вагаев победил Мишеля Празереса". AllBoxing.ru - все новости бокса и ММА (MMA) (in Russian). 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  45. ^ Guilherme Cruz (June 26, 2021). "How fatherhood helped UFC Vegas 30's Michel Prazeres stay focused through turbulent two-year suspension". mmafighting.com.
  46. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2018-02-15). "Michel Prazeres' wife suffered miscarriage, brother died weeks before UFC Belem". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  47. ^ Staff (2017-03-12). "UFC Fight Night 106 bonuses: With no 'Fight of Night,' who took home the 4 performance honors?". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  48. ^ Sherdog.com. "Michel". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-12-26.

External links

  • Michel Prazeres at UFC
  • Professional MMA record for Michel Prazeres from Sherdog