Magomedov calls Pereira a 'hypocrite' and 'Instagram farmer' ahead of UFC Baku middleweight clash

Sharabutdin Magomedov has launched a sharp verbal attack on Michel Pereira ahead of their middleweight bout at UFC Baku on Saturday at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan, accusing the Brazilian of being a “hypocrite” who exploits humanitarian causes for Instagram likes.

The flashpoint centres on Pereira’s decision to walk out carrying the Israeli flag following his first-round knockout of Andre Petroski in 2023. Magomedov, who is Muslim and from Dagestan, condemned the gesture in the context of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, and said Pereira’s subsequent viral video rescuing dogs from flooding in Brazil only deepened his contempt.

“In my eyes, he’s a hypocrite,” Magomedov told Red Corner MMA. “To raise the flag of Israel after the fight — the state that, in front of billions of people, committed genocide against Gaza, against kids and women. And at the very moment when the whole world condemned it, he raised the flag of Israel. Then he went to Brazil to rescue dogs from a flood. Honestly, if he only really cared about dogs, it would have been a different story. But he is just farming likes on Instagram. By rescuing dogs, he’s just chasing Instagram hype and likes. Do you know what his most popular video on Instagram is? Where he’s saving dogs. The dog savior. We really missed him in Dagestan when the flood happened.”

The reference to Dagestan points to severe flooding that struck the region in April, a detail Magomedov used to underline what he sees as the selective nature of Pereira’s concern.

Pereira has previously defended carrying the Israeli flag, saying he has many Israeli friends and was moved after watching videos of children caught up in the conflict. The Brazilian enters Saturday’s fight on a bounce-back run, having defeated Zachary Reese to snap a three-fight losing streak. His overall record stands at 32-14.

Magomedov (16-1) is also returning to form after his sole professional defeat, a loss to Michael Page. He responded with a win over Marc-Andre Barriault and arrives in Baku as one of the division’s more dangerous strikers, known for his unorthodox, high-volume attack.

With both fighters having recently climbed out of rough patches, and the pre-fight animosity now firmly personal, Saturday’s middleweight meeting carries stakes that extend well beyond the record books.