Brazilian UFC fighter Michel Pereira walked with an Israeli flag after his fight at UFC Vegas 81, just days after the UFC lifted its ban on fighters walking out with country flags.
In a press conference, Pereira – still wearing the Israeli flag – explained why he did it.
Spoiler alert: He is not Israeli, just a mensch.
As far as I can tell, Pereira is not Jewish. But his wife Gina Amir has an interesting connection to our religion (besides an Israeli-sounding name), based on this interview with her at the time she was still engaged to a Jewish man:
I noticed there’s a mezuzah on the doorway. Are you Jewish?
Amir: I didn’t grow up as a Jewish girl but Vin (Vin Cohen, her fiancé) and I both believe in the Jewish religion, the Jewish faith. And Persians actually are…Iran has one of the largest Jewish populations. Since I am not Arab…my last name sounds Arabic, but even in Israel, the name Amir is very common as a first name and last name.
Q. If I can expand, then, culturally it wasn’t a big deal for you to fall in love with a Jewish man?
Amir: Absolutely not. No. And I was never raised that way. My parents…we are all humans of this world. We don’t draw lines and borders. That’s not how I think.
Meanwhile, here’s hoping Israel can finish Hamas like Pereira finished his opponent.
Michel Pereira with the first round finish 🔥 #UFCVegas81 pic.twitter.com/A89gXAh1Y8
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) October 14, 2023
