The story of Alex Pereira, the Sao Paulo, Brazil native, is one of the most endearing within the UFC. As the current light heavyweight champion, he has become the company’s biggest superstar, earning him the award for best fighter of 2024. Alongside Ilia Topuria, the Brazilian has shone brightly in a year where he successfully defended his title three times, knocking out all three opponents. This upcoming Saturday, March 8th, Pereira will face off against Magomed Ankalaev, with the mission of further expanding his legacy, following a difficult adolescence that almost led him down a different path.
At the age of 12, Pereira, also known as ‘Poatan,’ had grown tired of school and decided to start working in a wheel repair shop. Every day, he would walk 40 minutes to earn a meager wage, often joining older men who introduced him to the world of alcohol at a young age. Pereira would frequently drink cachaça, a popular Brazilian spirit, influenced by his clients. As he recalled in an interview with The Players’ Tribune, “I remember when I fixed a wheel, clients would sometimes give me a tip, but other times they’d say, ‘I’ll buy you a drink at the bar,’ and I’d go and drink it.” This early exposure to alcohol would eventually lead him down a troubled path.
A Turning Point
After hitting rock bottom with his alcoholism at 16, Pereira attempted to turn his life around by playing soccer. However, during a game, he got into a fight and was advised to try a contact sport. Pereira started with boxing, but the intense physical training led him back to his old habits, prompting him to make a heartbreaking promise to himself: “No fights, no training, no sports. Just drinking. Three years of drinking.” Yet, as he had done before, the Brazilian managed to overcome his demons once and for all. At 26, he earned a scholarship to train at the best gym in Sao Paulo and promised his mother that he would never drink again.
As his career progressed, Pereira discovered kickboxing, where he forged a notable rivalry with Israel Adesanya. “I owe Adesanya a lot, and I’m not going to lie. That guy… God bless him,” Pereira said. The two faced off in kickboxing matches in 2016 and 2017, with Pereira emerging victorious both times. The second fight ended with a stunning left hook that left Adesanya needing oxygen. Two years later, Adesanya became the UFC middleweight champion, motivating Pereira to make the jump to MMA.
Rise to Prominence
After a professional debut loss by submission, Pereira secured three consecutive knockout victories, earning him a contract with the UFC. With his reputation as Adesanya’s arch-nemesis, Pereira only needed three more wins – two by knockout – and a single ranked opponent to face the champion. On November 13, 2022, Pereira became the new middleweight champion after finishing Adesanya in the fifth round, staging a historic comeback and establishing himself as the bane of the company’s then-biggest superstar.
Five months later, Adesanya exacted his revenge with a stunning counterpunch, prompting Pereira to move up to the light heavyweight division due to the harsh weight cut. Just three months after suffering a knockout against Adesanya, Pereira defeated Jan Blachowicz by unanimous decision and earned a title shot against Jiri Prochazka. On November 12, 2023, Pereira knocked out the Czech fighter and became a double UFC champion. The young man with a troubled past and a penchant for alcoholism had given way to a rising star.
2024: A Year of Triumph
With his status as a future Hall of Famer, Pereira entered 2024 as the year of ‘Poatan.’ As the UFC struggled to find a marquee event for UFC 300, Pereira’s name emerged to headline the biggest card of the year against Jamahal Hill. With an incredible knockout in the first round and a celebration to match, Pereira became the company’s main protagonist. Two months later, Conor McGregor’s injury left the UFC without a main event for UFC 303, and Pereira once again stepped in, knocking out Jiri Prochazka with a stunning head kick to save another major event.
Pereira’s success continued as he headlined UFC 306, finishing Khalil Rountree Jr. and cementing his third title defense in just six months. If he defeats Magomed Ankalaev this Saturday, he will surpass Jon Jones as the fighter who needed the least amount of time to make four title defenses. Additionally, Pereira has already expressed his intention to move up to heavyweight to become the first triple champion in UFC history. Fate has smiled upon Pereira, and although he still visits the small workshop where he once flirted with a life of trouble, it has forged the mentality that has made him a legend.