Quick Facts
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Michel Richard Cunha dos Prazeres (born July 25, 1981) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently fighting as a lightweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
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 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 on May 18, 2013 against Paulo Thiago at UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold. 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. He won the fight by a close split decision. It was his first fight outside of his native Brazil.
Prazeres took on Mairbek Taisumov on March 23, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 38, replacing the injured Gleison Tibau. 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.
Prazeres faced Kevin Lee on February 14, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 60. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Prazeres faced Valmir Lázaro on November 21, 2015 at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale. He won the fight by split decision.
Prazeres was expected to face Tony Martin on July 23, 2016 at UFC on Fox 20. However, Martin pulled out of the fight in early July citing a neck injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer J.C. Cottrell. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Prazeres next faced Gilbert Burns on September 24, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 95. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Prazeresis faced Josh Burkman on March 11, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 106. He won the fight via submission in the first round. The win also earned Prazeres his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Josh Burkman
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 24 matches | 22 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By submission | 9 | 0 |
| By decision | 12 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 22–2 | Josh Burkman | Submission (north-south choke) | UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Gastelum | 000000002017-03-11-0000March 11, 2017 | 1 | 1:42 | Fortaleza, Brazil | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 21–2 | Gilbert Burns | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Lansberg | 000000002016-09-24-0000September 24, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Brasília, Brazil | Catchweight (158 lbs) bout; Prazeres missed weight. |
| Win | 20–2 | J.C. Cottrell | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Holm vs. Shevchenko | 000000002016-07-23-0000July 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 | 000000002015-11-21-0000November 21, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Monterrey, Mexico | |
| Loss | 18–2 | Kevin Lee | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch | 000000002015-02-14-0000February 14, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 18–1 | Mairbek Taisumov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson 2 | 000000002014-03-23-0000March 23, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Natal, Brazil | |
| Win | 17–1 | Jesse Ronson | Decision (split) | UFC 165 | 000000002013-09-21-0000September 21, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Lightweight debut. |
| Loss | 16–1 | Paulo Thiago | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold | 000000002013-05-18-0000May 18, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil | |
| Win | 16–0 | Leandro Batata | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 30 | 000000002012-06-02-0000June 2, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Win | 15–0 | Sérgio Leal | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Jungle Fight 37 | 000000002012-03-31-0000March 31, 2012 | 1 | 1:49 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 14–0 | André Luis Lobato | Decision (unanimous) | Iron Man Championship 6 | 000000002010-06-10-0000June 10, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Win | 13–0 | Antônio Carlos Ribeiro | Submission (triangle choke) | Midway Fight | 000000002008-06-26-0000June 26, 2008 | 1 | N/A | Belém, Brazil | |
| Win | 12–0 | Frederick Samurai | Decision (unanimous) | Mega Champion Fight 2 | 000000002007-11-10-0000November 10, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Manaus, Brazil | |
| Win | 11–0 | Valter de Menezes | Decision (unanimous) | Predador FC 5 - Kamae | 000000002007-04-21-0000April 21, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–0 | Gabriel Santos | Decision (unanimous) | Macapa Verdadeiro Vale Tudo | 000000002007-03-22-0000March 22, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Macapá, Brazil | |
| Win | 9–0 | Anderson Banana | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Predador FC 4 - Kamae | 000000002007-01-25-0000January 25, 2007 | 1 | N/A | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–0 | Edilson Florêncio | Decision (unanimous) | Midway Fight | 000000002006-10-05-0000October 5, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Win | 7–0 | Ari dos Santos | Decision (unanimous) | Ilha Combat | 000000002006-07-01-0000July 1, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Macapá, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–0 | Luis Neto | Submission (punches) | Iron Man Vale Tudo 7 | 000000002005-06-11-0000June 11, 2005 | 1 | 4:16 | Macapá, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | Elias Monteiro | TKO (punches) | Super Vale Tudo Ananindeua | 000000002004-04-14-0000April 14, 2004 | 1 | 1:17 | Ananindeua, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Cleber Santana | Submission (choke) | Super Vale Tudo Ananindeua | 000000002003-09-12-0000September 12, 2003 | 2 | 2:22 | Ananindeua, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Rogério Gama | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Desafio de Gigantes | 000000002003-03-21-0000March 21, 2003 | 1 | 3:47 | Macapá, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Sérgio de Oliveira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Desafio de Gigantes | 000000002003-03-21-0000March 21, 2003 | 1 | 2:13 | Macapá, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Sandro Lyon | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Open Fight Vale Tudo 2 | 000000002000-10-09-0000October 9, 2000 | 1 | 3:58 | Belém, Brazil |