As the
Ultimate Fighting Championship venue lights dim, the haunting
strains of Sepultura’s “Itsari” fills the air, its cadence
reverberating through the arena. “Poatan” emerges from the tunnel,
his trademark skip-step setting a rhythmic prelude, as he conjures
an imaginary bow and arrow that metaphorically strikes at the heart
of the Octagon. With that, the stage is set.
UFC light heavyweight king
Alex
Pereira has traversed a remarkable trajectory in the realm of
mixed martial arts from being initially recognized as the
formidable foe who vanquished former UFC 185-pound champion
Israel
Adesanya in their kickboxing encounters. Following his dual
triumphs over Adesanya in kickboxing, Pereira replicated the
triumphs in only his eighth professional MMA bout, clinching the
UFC middleweight strap with a resounding fifth-round technical
knockout victory over “The Last Stylebender” at
UFC
281.
Fast forward to a year and a half later, and “Poatan” now stands
tall as the reigning 205-pound king, having cemented his position
as a beloved figure in the sport. His innate charisma, coupled with
his understated hilarity on social media and the proud
representation of his indigenous heritage from the Pataxo tribe,
have endeared him to global recognition. Now, as the calendar flips
to the grand spectacle that is
UFC
300 this Saturday in Las Vegas, the Brazilian aims to further
strengthen his legacy, as he steps into the spotlight to take on
Jamahal
Hill in the headliner of the historic event.
Ahead of Pereira’s latest appearance, a look at five defining
moments of his career that shaped him into the formidable combatant
he embodies now:
1. A Kickboxing Legacy and Glory Bound
Pereira, to this day, remains the only fighter to have held titles
in two weight classes simultaneously in Glory, the world’s premier
kickboxing organization. The Brazilian’s illustrious track record
there includes seizing victory in the esteemed Glory 14
middleweight title contender tournament, claiming the prestigious
mantle of Glory middleweight champ, holding the record for the most
title defenses in the organization’s divisional history and
ascending to legendary status as the light heavyweight champion. In
2023, Pereira became the third fighter to be inducted into the
Glory Kickboxing Hall of Fame, having posted a record of 12-4 in
the promotion before transitioning to MMA.
2. Knock, Knock: A New Contender in the Mix
Having posted a 3-1 record since making his professional MMA debut
in October 2015, Pereira went on to make his UFC debut against
Andreas
Michailidis at
UFC 268. Competing in the closing bout of the preliminary card,
Pereira engaged in a prudent strategy in the first round, as
Michailidis pressured him and looked to take him down. The Greek
fighter secured a takedown and controlled Pereira against the cage,
but he failed to mount a significant offense. However, in a mere 18
seconds of the next frame, Pereira launched into action with a
stunning flying knee and followed up with a couple of
ground-and-pound shots to finish the fight. The message echoed with
clarity: A fresh contender had emerged in the 185-pound
bracket.
3. Punching His Way to a Title Shot
Pereira was an unranked fighter when he took on then No. 5-ranked
Sean
Strickland at
UFC 276. With the event’s spotlight firmly fixed on his
archrival, Adesanya, who headlined the event as the 185-pound king,
Pereira’s objective loomed clear: Make an emphatic statement
through his performance to capture the attention of the champ.
Deliver he did. As the first round progressed, it was mostly
contested in a calculated manner. Pereira seized the opportune
moment to land his thunderous left hook that staggered Strickland.
As “Tarzan” attempted to regain his footing, the Brazilian attacked
again with a stifling right hand, securing the victory at the 2:36
mark of the first round.
4. A Pioneering Victory and Maiden Crown
In his maiden shot at UFC gold against Adesanya at UFC 281, Pereira
was trailing on the scorecards before he pulled off a sensational
upset that would go down in history as the latest knockout in a UFC
middleweight title match. For four rounds, Adesanya orchestrated a
meticulous game plan, even managing to hurt his rival at the end of
a round that barely breached the buzzer. Pereira, recognizing that
he was behind on the scorecards, made an aggressive push,
capitalized on a momentary lapse in Adesanya’s defense and launched
a relentless assault on his trapped foe. He rained down a flurry of
unanswered powerful blows that left Adesanya no avenue to escape,
prompting the referee to halt the contest at the 2:01 mark of the
final round.
5. Echoes of Greatness
Following his unsuccessful bid to defend the freshly minted
championship against Adesanya at
UFC 287, Periera decided to make the 205-pound division his new
home. After banking a split decision win over
Jan
Blachowicz, “Poatan” squared off against
Jiri
Prochazka at
UFC 295 for the vacant title. The Brazilian scored an emphatic
Round 2 stoppage win over the Czech standout with a counter left
hook, doing so with his back against the fence as Prochazka tried
to pressure forward. As Prochazka attempted to evade the
Brazilian’s assault by holding on to a double leg attempt, Pereira
unleashed a relentless onslaught of elbows that sent his opponent
crumbling to the canvas momentarily, prompting the referee to step
in and call a stop to the contest. With that win, Pereira achieved
the status of the shortest time and fewest bouts to win
championships in two divisions in UFC history.