Matheus Nicolau vs Alex Perez Picks and Prediction – 4/27/2024

Matheus Nicolau is a Brazilian fighter coming into Saturday as the number 5 ranked flyweight in the UFC. Nicolau is a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu and has been a professional fighter since 2010. This will be the 10^th UFC appearance for Nicolau as he currently sits 19-3 overall and 7-2 in the UFC after a Knockout loss to Brandon Royval in April of 2023. For more UFC action see our UFC Picks.

Nicolau has had a solid mixed martial arts career up to this point with ten of his 19 victories being via the finish. With five submission victories and five knockout victories in his career Nicolau has shown the ability to finish opponents with his last finish in December of 2022. Nicolau left the UFC following a loss to Dustin Ortiz in 2018 but two dominant victories in 2019 saw him return to the Octagon in 2021.

Alex Perez is a fill in opponent for this fight currently ranked as the number 8 UFC flyweight overall. Perez has 24 wins and eight losses through 32 mixed martial arts fights in his 13 year professional career. Perez comes into Saturday with his back against the wall currently riding a three-game losing streak following a decision loss to Muhammad Mokaev in March of this year.

Perez uses wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and boxing in his flyweight style. With a 65 inch reach standing at 5 foot 6 inches tall Perez is a prototypical flyweight fighter. Half of Perez’s career 24 victories have come via stoppage with his last being a leg kick TKO in June of 2020.