1. The Unlikely Beginnings of Alex Pereira:
Born in 1987 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Alex Sandro Silva Pereira’s incredible journey into the world of combat sports started in the favelas of Sal Bernardo Do campo. Despite growing up in poverty, he made the tough decision to leave Middle School at the age of 12 and began working in a tire shop, all while dreaming of one day owning a car or a motorbike. Little did he know, his determination and passion would lead him down an extraordinary path as a professional fighter.
2. Battling Demons:
In his teenage years, Pereira went through a difficult phase of excessive drinking, which eventually led to alcoholism. However, in 2009, at the age of 22, he made the courageous decision to overcome his addiction and completely transform his life. By embracing kickboxing as a means to redirect his energy towards something constructive, Pereira unearthed his innate fighting ability, earning him the nickname “Poatan” or “Stone hands” due to his formidable punches.
3. Rise to Glory in Kickboxing:
Despite facing early challenges with vices, Pereira’s unwavering dedication to kickboxing began to pay off. After five years in the sport, he achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Glory middleweight gold in 2014 by emerging victorious in the promotions tournament, thus establishing his reputation. This marked the start of his reign in the sport, which he successfully defended with an impressive total of five title defenses.
4. Dual Belts and Pound-for-Pound Greatness:
Pereira’s journey in kickboxing reached its peak when he achieved the remarkable feat of holding two belts at the same time, dominating the light heavyweight division as well. His consecutive victories over Israel Adesanya brought significant triumphs to his record, cementing his position as a top 10 pound-for-pound fighter and the ultimate middleweight and light heavyweight champion in the world.
5. Transition to MMA:
While kickboxing displayed Pereira’s striking skills, he didn’t confine himself to just one sport. Pereira also tried his hand at MMA, entering the cage for the first time at the age of 28, despite lacking proficiency in several areas crucial for success. Although he encountered challenges in his early MMA fights, this experience paved the way for his eventual venture into the UFC.
6. The UFC Experiment:
Pereira’s impressive knockout victories in LFA in late 2020 caught the eye of the UFC, signaling the start of the promotion’s bold venture with the seasoned 34-year-old kickboxer. The UFC’s calculated risk proved to be a resounding success as Pereira demonstrated his unwavering determination to refine his skills and effectively handle the multifaceted challenges presented by elite middleweight fighters.
7. Striking Dominance in the UFC:
The true measure of Pereira’s abilities was put to the test at UFC 276 when he faced off against Sean Strickland, a significantly tougher opponent. Pereira’s exceptional striking skills, demonstrated by a first-round knockout, not only resulted in an impressive finish but also firmly established his status as a leading contender in the UFC’s middleweight division.
8. The Anticipated Rematch with Adesanya :
With the UFC setting the stage for a rematch between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya at UFC 281, fight fans were buzzing with anticipation. In their third encounter, Pereira emerged victorious via a fifth-round TKO, becoming the undisputed middleweight champion of the UFC. However, Adesanya sought revenge in their fourth fight on UFC 287, knocking out Pereira and reclaiming his belt. Following this loss, Pereira moved up to the light heavyweight weight class and faced tough opponent Jan Blachowicz. Pereira defeated Blachowicz and earned a title shot for the light heavyweight belt. He continued his winning streak by defeating Jiří Procházka on UFC 295 and is currently the UFC light heavyweight champion.
9. Conclusion:
Alex Pereira’s life story is nothing short of a thrilling movie. Coming from a very poor background in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and struggling with alcohol addiction, he left school at a young age and started working in a tire shop at 12 years old. Despite these challenges, he went on to become one of the most successful kickboxers, becoming a two-division champion. He then pursued his old rival to the UFC, defeated Adesanya, and became a two-division champion in the UFC as well. It has been an incredibly inspiring journey. We wish Alex the best of luck in his future fights and hope to see him in action more.
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