UFC Fight Night 230’s Andre Petroski was willing to face Michel Pereira on 10 days’ notice ‘for a reason’

LAS VEGAS – Andre Petroski is bracing himself for a challenging fight against Michel Pereira at UFC Fight Night 230.

After Marc-Andre Barriault pulled out of the middleweight bout with Pereira (27-11 MMA, 6-2 UFC) on short notice, Petroski (10-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) accepted the opportunity to step in just 10 days before the event.

Initially, Petroski was hesitant to accept the fight due to scheduling a grappling competition at the ADCC trails. However, after careful consideration, he recognized the advantages of facing Pereira, who is a fan-favorite.

In addition to the name recognition, Petroski believes he has a favorable matchup and can secure a victory despite the limited preparation time.

“I would say it’s a typical striker vs. grappler fight,” Petroski told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the media day for UFC Fight Night 230. “My striking has improved significantly, and we’ll see that on Saturday. I love the matchup, even though I would’ve preferred a full camp. But I took it on short notice for a reason.”

With his five consecutive wins in the UFC, Petroski hopes that defeating Pereira in these circumstances will lead to more high-profile fights. He has repeatedly expressed his interest in facing decorated wrestler Bo Nickal and states that he would sign the contract for that matchup anytime.

“I continue to strive to prove that I’m the best grappler in this division,” Petroski said. “I believe I can do that, and I’m always eager to demonstrate it. Bo seems to think the same way, so let’s make it happen.

For more information about the event, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 230.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie