Alex Sandro Silva Pereira, known as Alex Pereira, is the current UFC light heavyweight champion. He has had a remarkable journey, from his challenging upbringing in Brazil to becoming a two-division champion in kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Pereira is one of just eight fighters in UFC history to achieve double champ status. His rapid rise in the UFC, highlighted by his record as the fastest double champion in UFC history (7 fights, 736 days) made him a fighter of almost mythical proportions. He is widely considered to be the most dangerous striker to ever compete in the UFC which is largely attributed to his incredible kickboxing resume. 

Early Life and Background

Born in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, Pereira grew up in a favela, which translates to slum or ghetto. Pereira left school in middle school to become a bricklayer's assistant. He began drinking at a young age and became an alcoholic. At 22, he began training in kickboxing in hopes of getting rid of his addiction. He did not become a professional kickboxer until 2012 at 24. 

Alex Pereira's Net Worth

As of 2024, Alex Pereira's net worth is estimated at $4 million. That number will only increase with the PPV points from his upcoming fight at UFC 307. (Read Full Article Here)

Alex Periera Relationship and Children

Alex Pereira is currently single. He has had previous relationships with UFC fighter Pollyanna Viana and MMA media personality Merle Christine, whom he was engaged to. The couple broke up in 2023. Pereira was also married and had two teenage sons, Alessandro Vidal Silva and Lohan Vidal Silva, who both train in MMA. 

Partnerships and Endorsements

Pereira has endorsed AthletiCBD and had an NFT Partnership with OWNIC. 

Career Highlights

Alex Pereira spent nearly a decade as a professional kickboxer. His kickboxing career spanned nine years and 40 fights. Pereira was a highly decorated kick boxer winning several world titles. Pereira won his first title with Jungle Fight, a Brazilian kickboxing promotion in 2012. In 2015 Poatan became the  WGP Kickboxing Middleweight Champion. Pereira later fought under the highly esteemed kickboxing promotion Glory. It was there where his legendary rivalry with Israel Adesanya began. Pereira won the first fight via unanimous decision at Glory of Heroes 1 in China. Nearly a year later, the two met again at Glory of Heroes 7 in Brazil. This time, Pereira knocked out Adesanya with his signature left hook in round three. In 2017, Pereira became Glory's middleweight champion of the world, defending the title a remarkable five times. In 2019, Pereira became Glory's Interim light heavyweight champion before winning the undisputed title in 2021. He left Glory that same year to join the UFC. In 2023, he was inducted into Glory's Hall of Fame. 

Pereira made his UFC debut at UFC 268, viciously knocking out Andreas Michailidis. At UFC 276, Pereira delivered his first highlight-reel knockout against Sean Strickland in the first round. Three hundred seventy-one days after his UFC debut, Pereira fought his old adversary, Israel Adesanya, for the Adesanya's middleweight championship. Pereira knocked Adesanya in round five in round 5 with the champion controlling the fight. Adesanya returned the favor at UFC 287, knocking out Pereira in round two. Following the fight, Pereira moved up to light heavyweight. At UFC 295, Pereira knocked out Jiří Procházka in round two to win the vacant light heavyweight championship. Pereira became the fastest double champion in UFC history (736 days, seven fights). 

In 2024, Alex Pereira headlined UFC 300, the biggest card in promotional history. He knocked out former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill in round one. 

At UFC 303, Pereira stepped in to replace Conor McGregor in the main event in a rematch with Jiří Procházka. Pereira was on vacation at the time and recovering from a broken foot. Nonetheless, Poatan defended his belt and knocked out Procházka in round two. 

Philanthropy

Alex Pereira is one of the most charitable fighters in MMA. In 2017, he raised funds for those affected by the Zika Virus. In 2023, he delivered relief and assisted in the effort to rebuild his old neighborhood after the destruction caused by heavy rainfall.
In 2024, Pereira donated 100,000 to help clean up southern Brazil after the massive flooding in his home country, which left over a hundred thousand people displaced. Throughout his travels, Pereira frequently visits children's hospitals around the world.

MMA and Kickboxing Record

As a kickboxer, Alex Pereira is 33-7 with 21 knockouts. In MMA, he is 11-2 with nine knockouts.   Alex Pereira has won Performance of the Night five times in the UFC against Andreas Michailidis, Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya, and Jiří Procházka 2X.