From Favela to UFC Gold: The Alex Pereira Story

Welcome to a special edition of the Cage Chronicle Newsletter, where we dive into the remarkable story of Alex "Poatan" Pereira. Known for his extraordinary skills in kickboxing and the captivating charisma he brings both inside and outside the ring, Pereira's journey is a fascinating one.

Join us as we take a closer look at the life and career of this exceptional fighter and discover the unique qualities that have made him a standout figure in the world of combat sports🥊

Challenges Faced in the Favela: Early Life and Alcoholism 🇧🇷 

Alex Pereira, born on July 7, 1987, in São Paulo, Brazil, had his early life marked by the challenges of growing up in a favela. In a humorous twist, he decided to leave school during middle school and started working at a tire shop at the tender age of 12, where his coworkers playfully enjoyed iced Cachaças 🍸️ However, this seemingly innocent escapade exposed him to the world of alcohol consumption, eventually leading to his struggle with alcoholism at a surprisingly young age.

A New Start with New Challenges 🥊 

At the tender age of 21, Alex Pereira had an epiphany that life as an athlete could be his ticket to a brighter future. However, it quickly became apparent that the beautiful game of football (or soccer for our international friends) wasn't his forte. Nonetheless, having grown up in a neighborhood where street brawls were more common than rainy days, he decided that mastering martial arts would at least help him hold his own in the Favela. After all, who needs fancy footwork when you've got fists of fury? 👊 

His quest for the perfect martial arts gym led him to Wilson Nunes, aka "Ninja," who became his inaugural coach. From day one, Ninja saw the potential in young Alex, but he also recognized the need for a coach with more experience to refine this raw talent. That's when he set his sights on Belocqua Wera, one of São Paulo's premier kickboxing coaches. Ninja was relentless in his pursuit, convinced that Alex had all the makings of a champion.

Initially, Wera was about as enthusiastic as a sloth on a lazy Sunday. The prospect of mentoring a newbie didn't exactly light his fire. However, Ninja's persistence eventually wore him down. Alex faced a daunting trial at Wera's gym, squaring off against the Brazilian champion of the era, 'Eduardinho.' Wera reminisced, “Alex went all in right off the bat with full aggressiveness. He was in complete disadvantage and eventually quit, but he showed some quality, he showed where he could go.”

Wera didn't just serve up a tough test; he dished out some sage advice as well. He emphasized,“You saw that you need to learn the technique,” Wera told him. “There’s no point coming with just pure strength. That won’t get things done. You’re stronger and heavier than ‘Eduardinho,’ but you saw what happened. You need to work hard and learn my style.”

Under Wera's seasoned guidance, Alex Pereira snagged the Brazilian WGP title, along with a fitting moniker: "Poatan," a Tupi-Guarani term that means "hands hard as rocks." But even champions have their plot twists, and eventually, Pereira and Wera chose separate paths. The fight game's full of surprises, isn't it?

Beginning of a Hall of Famer 🐐 

In the world of kickboxing, Poatan climbed the ladder with determination. After amassing an impressive 25-3 amateur record, he earned his shot at the professional level. Poatan secured several pro wins and titles, ultimately grabbing the attention of Glory, one of the sport's top organizations.

His journey led him to Glory 14 in Zagreb, Croatia, where he entered the Middleweight contenders tournament. It was in the semi-final bout against Dustin Jacoby that things heated up quickly, with Poatan claiming a 1st-round KO victory. With this resounding win, he advanced to the final, where he faced Armenian fighter Sahak Parparyan. Poatan's relentless efforts paid off, as he triumphed in the final, winning the Middleweight Contenders tournament by Majority Decision.

The stakes continued to rise, and Poatan's talents shone brightly. He was set to compete in the Glory Middleweight kickboxing "Last Man Standing" tournament at Glory 17 in Los Angeles. Though he faced adversity, Poatan's determination and skill saw him through to the quarterfinals. There, he encountered Artem Levin, the eventual tournament champion, and bowed out with his head held high.

Undeterred by the setback, Pereira embarked on an impressive winning streak. He secured a title and achieved the remarkable feat of defeating former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya not once but twice. Poatan then returned to Glory, facing Simon Marcus at Glory 46 in China for the Glory Middleweight championship. In a thrilling contest, Poatan emerged victorious and proudly wore the championship belt.

After successfully defending his title four times, Poatan decided to step up his game even further. He moved up in weight to challenge Donegi Abena for the Glory Light Heavyweight title. In a spectacular showdown, Poatan secured the win by KO in the 3rd round, making history as Glory's first-ever double champion 🏆️🏆️ 

Kickboxer turned MMA fighter 🤼 

Shifting gears from the kickboxing ring to the wild world of mixed martial arts in 2015, Pereira faced his first opponent at Jungle Fight 82. His debut, though spirited, ended in defeat via submission. But hey, every great story has to start somewhere, right?

Undeterred, Pereira continued his MMA journey with appearances in Jungle Fight. There, he demonstrated his versatility, earning two consecutive wins. The first was a knockout that could practically be heard around the world, as he faced Marcelo Cruz. The second victory saw him defeating Marcus Vinicius Silveira via TKO.

The next plot twist in this action-packed tale was set to unfold on the Brazilian edition of Dana White's Contender Series. Pereira was slated to face Diego Henrique da Silva on August 10, 2018. However, this battle never graced the octagon, as Glory had other plans for him.

In a move that would make headlines, news surfaced on October 22, 2020, revealing Pereira's contract with the Legacy Fighting Alliance. This marked a turning point in his MMA adventure. His promotional debut took place on November 20, 2020, against Thomas Powell, and guess what? Pereira knocked his opponent out in the very first round. It's safe to say that his MMA journey was off to a thrilling start.

UFC Champion in the Making 🏆️ 

On September 3, 2021, Pereira decided to take a detour into the wild world of the UFC. His first stop was at UFC 268 on November 6, 2021, where he squared off against Andreas Michailidis. In a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Pereira secured a technical knockout victory in the second round. His dazzling performance earned him the prestigious Performance of the Night award, marking the start of his UFC adventure.

Pereira's UFC journey continued with a bout against Bruno Silva on March 12, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 203. Throughout all three rounds, Pereira showcased his striking skills, leading to a unanimous decision victory in his favor.

Originally slated to face Sean Strickland on July 30, 2022, at UFC 277, Pereira's fighting finesse proved too irresistible for the fans to wait. The promotion moved their matchup to UFC 276 on July 2, 2022. In a thrilling twist of fate, Pereira sealed the deal with a first-round knockout. This electrifying performance, yet again, earned him the Performance of the Night award, firmly establishing him as one of the UFC's rising stars.

In a showdown that could be described as nothing less than epic, Pereira climbed into the octagon to take on Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship on November 12, 2022, at UFC 281. The fight had fans on the edge of their seats, and in the fifth round, Pereira secured a technical knockout victory, along with the championship belt and another Performance of the Night award. Now that's what we call a night to remember!

But wait, there's a twist in the story! After the rematch with Adesanya, which saw Pereira getting knocked out in the final minute of the second round, he decided it was time to move on. Instead of clinging to the past, he announced his next challenge - stepping up a weight class to face none other than former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Jan Błachowicz.

This epic showdown took place at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it was a night to remember. The fight went the distance and kept fans on the edge of their seats. It was so competitive that even the judges had to flip a coin to decide the winner. In the end, it landed on Pereira's side, resulting in a split decision victory. With this win, his pro MMA record improved to 8-2, and he's now in the running for that shiny, vacant Light Heavyweight title. Who would've thought that switching weight classes could be so thrilling?

What’s next for Poatan? 👀 

Having conquered the likes of Jan Błachowicz, Pereira is now gearing up for his next challenge. He's all set to step into the octagon against none other than the Czech superstar, Jiří Procházka. This epic showdown is scheduled to take place this weekend at UFC 295 in New York, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Pereira will be vying for the prestigious light heavyweight championship, and he also carries the hopes of avenging his longtime friend and training partner, Glover Texeira, who tasted defeat at the hands of the Czech fighter back in 2022. It's a fight you won't want to miss!

Thanks for joining us in this edition of Cage Chronicle's, where we explored the remarkable journey of Alex Pereira. For more captivating fighter profiles and the latest updates on the world of combat sports, stay tuned for our next issue.

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