Alex Pereira Fighter Profile
- Age: 37
- Weight Class: Middleweight/Light Heavyweight
- Years Active (UFC): 2021-Present
- Country of Birth: Brazil
- Kickboxing record (2013-2021): 33-7 [21 KOs]
- Pro MMA Record: 11-2-0
- Knockout Wins: 9
- Submission Wins: 0
- Nickname: Poatan
- Championship’s Won: 185lbs (MW) & 200lbs (LHW)
- Team: Teixeira MMA & Fitness
- Career Earnings Estimate: 3-5 million USD
Most casual MMA fans reading today’s UFC Legends article will read the professional MMA record of Brazil’s Alex Pereira and be dumbfounded that a fighter with just thirteen appearances could be considered in such a category.
However, despite making his UFC debut just three years ago, Brazil’s famed kickboxer turned MMA superstar has already etched his name in the book of greats. When considering his accomplishments to date, ‘Poatan’ could very well go down as one of MMA’s GOAT’s.
Join us today as I explore the combat sports journey Alex Pereira has undergone to mark himself as a UFC legend. Highlighting the unfathomable feats this power-punching brute has achieved in such a short time, thus giving him elite status in mixed martial arts that won’t ever likely be replicated.
Before you go and place your bets at the top UFC betting sites, let’s dive into Pereira’s career and how he got here.
Alex Pereira: Kickboxing-MMA Crossover Dominance
The Ultimate Fighting Championship isn’t just the No.1 mixed martial arts organization on the planet; it’s a promotion that flies the flag as the most elite combat sport.
As a result, whether it’s wrestling, kickboxing, or boxing, crossovers aren’t as rare as you’d think. In fact, more than half of the fighters competing today have some form of wrestling background, while others got their start in martial arts via alternative disciplines such as muay thai kickboxing, boxing, judo, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, or traditional kickboxing.
The last on that list of recognized combat sports has witnessed a plethora of talented athletes cross over into the UFC since the company’s birth, some of whom have lifted championships and garnered much success. However, since the rise of Alex Pereira, there hasn’t been a more successful and noteworthy kickboxing-MMA crossover in the promotion’s 30-plus-year history.
Before Pereira claimed two championships across multiple divisions in the UFC, he achieved the same feat as a kickboxer. As a result, he is the only fighter in combat sports history to become a two-division titleholder (middleweight and light heavyweight) in kickboxing and the UFC, not to mention the fact that these promotions are the pinnacle of their respective fields.
Based on these factors alone, ‘Poatan’ has earned MMA legend status.
Chama: A People’s Fighter
The Portuguese term “chama” might refer to “call” or “flame,” but in Alex Pereira’s world, it means “come on” or “let’s go.” Such a slogan perfectly embodies the type of fighter Pereira is… a people’s fighter who’s ready and willing, anytime and anywhere!
We often see up-and-coming fighters accept short-notice fights. With a desire to ascend through the rankings, albeit risky, taking fights regularly and on late notice, no matter who the opposition might be, is common.
Unfortunately, this tends to slow down once a fighter reaches the top rankings. When they arrive closer to the summit of their respective divisions, each victory and said ranking position holds more importance, and in turn, those short-notice fights aren’t as appealing.
Regarding championship status, well, you can kiss those anywhere, anytime type of contract signings goodbye. In some cases, titleholders possess so much pulling power that they hand-pick who they’ll fight next, and they’ll do so just once, maybe twice in a calendar year.
This is what makes Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira a different beast. The Brazilian knockout artist, despite the fame, fortune, and position at the top, is still a people’s fighter at his core, as he’ll have no issue with short-notice fights, opponent changes, and anything in between.
Since ‘Poatan’ arrived at the UFC in Q4 of 2021, not even three years back, he’s fought nine times! More shockingly, six of those contests have been 25-minute championship bouts, and in 2024 alone, he’s accepted two short-notice opponents.
Such an attitude toward competition has rapidly made Pereira a fan favorite. He’s the outlier amongst UFC titleholders, and even should his schedule slow down in the coming years, he’s already earned the respect and legend status.
Poatan: The Two-Division UFC Champion
How can a fighter become a UFC legend with just nine promotional appearances on his pro-MMA record? Well, aside from the aforementioned factors, how does double-champ status sound?
In the history of the UFC, just four other fighters have managed the incredibly difficult task of winning championship belts in two weight classes: Henry Cejudo, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Conor McGregor… Pereira is the fifth!
Critics will argue that because Pereira didn’t defend his 185-lb title, he doesn’t deserve to be mentioned alongside names such as Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, or DC. But none of those fighters also accomplished what ‘Poatan’ has in such a short time. And unlike them, when moving up to the light heavyweight division, he had to earn his title opportunity by defeating a top-ranked opponent; it wasn’t merely handed to him.
Company greats like Israel Adesanya, Max Holloway, TJ Dillashaw, and Alexander Volkanovski failed to accomplish what he did; therefore, when we’re talking all-time greats and those deserving of legendary status, Alex Pereira is a rightful candidate.
The best part about it is that he isn’t done yet.
At UFC 307 on October 5th, live from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, ‘Poatan’ makes his third light heavyweight championship defense versus Khalil Rountree Jr.
Aged 37, Pereira doesn’t have many more miles on the clock, but for now, he continues building a legacy like we’ve never seen before. Should he retire tomorrow, he’ll go down as a legend, but who knows, perhaps we’ll have several more highlight reel knockouts to look forward to!
Pereira Mixed Martial Arts Accomplishments:
- The Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (One time, two defenses, current)
- Shortest time and fewest fights to win championships in two weight classes in UFC history (736 days/7 fights)
- UFC Middleweight Champion (One time)
- The first fight in UFC history to win the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight titles
- UFC Performance of the Night (Five times)
- Has victories over five former UFC champions (Adesanya, Strickland, Blackowicz, Prochazka x2, Hill)
- Kickboxing
- Glory
- 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee
- 2021 Light Heavyweight Champion
- 2019 Interim Light Heavyweight Champion
- 2017 Middleweight Champion (Five defenses)
- 2014 Middleweight No.1 Contender Tournament Winner
- WGP
- 2015 Middleweight Champion
- 2012 187lb Champion
- WAKO
- 2013 WAKO Pro 187lb Champion
- 2012 Jungle Fight Middleweight Champion
