Meridianbet at UFC Belgrade: Michael “PQD” makes his debut against Elliott

A fighter from Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro, faces an experienced opponent in Belgrade on August 1st, seeking to maintain his overwhelming knockout record.

It's almost here. On August 1st, at the Belgrade Arena, Michael "PQD" Oliveira He's taking the most important walk of his life. On the other side of the octagon will be Oban Elliott, the Welshman who goes by the name "The Welsh Gangster". Meridianbet Brazil, the sponsor of the Rio native, is following every step of this final stretch.

Let's look at the numbers, because they tell a great story.

The Brazilian: Nine fights, nine wins, and eight knockouts, six of them in the first round, one after the other. No losses. A former paratrooper in the Brazilian Army, raised in Rocinha, and voted Fighter of the Year at LFA Brazil in 2023, he arrived at the UFC through the most difficult door possible: Dana White's Contender Series, where he knocked out an undefeated opponent with a left cross and left Las Vegas with a signed contract.

The Welshman: Elliott has a 12-4 record, five fights in the UFC, and is 28 years old, training at Shore MMA in Wales. He is the more experienced of the two in the organization. However, his record reveals important details: six of his twelve wins came by judges' decision, and of his four losses, two were by knockout.

Remember this detail, because it sums up the fight: The Brazilian knocks out his opponent, while the Welshman has already been knocked out.

And there's more. Elliott arrives in Belgrade coming off two consecutive losses. He lost by decision to Seok Hyeon Ko in June 2025 and was submitted by Jonathan Micallef at UFC 325 in January of this year with a rear-naked choke in the second round. He's a fighter under pressure, needing a result urgently. And athletes under pressure tend to let their guard down.

There's another ingredient that Brazilian fans won't let pass: Elliott earned his UFC contract by beating another Brazilian, Kaik Brito, by majority decision in the Contender Series. Now he crosses paths with another Brazilian representative, this time one who doesn't yet know what it's like to lose.

The Welshman's advantage is simple and real: his experience in the octagon. Elliott has already made the walk five times in the UFC, while for Michael it will be his debut. Debuting on the biggest stage in world MMA is a significant achievement for anyone.

But if Michael's history suggests anything, it's that pressure is nothing new for someone who spent eight years jumping from airplanes for the Brazilian Army.

"Pressure doesn't scare me. My eight years in the Army taught me a lot about self-control and keeping a cool head when things get tough. I respect the history and trajectory of every opponent I face. We studied the Welshman's game extensively to go in there knowing exactly what to do and aim for a very effective result. I can only thank Meridianbet, my team, and everyone who believes in me and is rooting for me in this mission. We're all in this together!" Michael "PQD" Oliveira

Meridianbet Brazil sponsors Michael "PQD" Oliveira through a direct agreement with the athlete. The brand has supported combat sports for over a decade, from elite professional cards to grassroots events, and invests in clubs, youth categories, and community sports programs in all markets where it operates.

Image credit: Meridianbet - MF Press Global

About Meridianbet Brazil

Meridianbet Brasil (MERIDIAN GAMING BRASIL SPE LTDA) operates under federal license no. 0086/2024 as part of the global Meridianbet group, founded in 2001 and present in more than 20 regulated markets worldwide, a member of Meridian Holdings Inc., a company listed on Nasdaq (NASDAQ: MRDN).

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