Alex Pereira – The Rise of “Poatan”

Full Name: Alexsandro Pereira
Nickname: Poatan (meaning “Stone Hands” in the indigenous Tupi language)
Date of Birth: July 7, 1987
Nationality: Brazilian
Height: 6’4″ (193 cm)
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight (formerly Middleweight)
Reach: 79 inches (201 cm)
Fighting Style: Kickboxing, Muay Thai
Team: Teixeira MMA & Fitness

Early Life & Kickboxing Career

Alex Pereira was born in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. Coming from humble beginnings, he worked as a construction worker in his youth. Struggling with life’s difficulties, he turned to combat sports as a way to channel his energy. He initially trained in kickboxing and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of the most feared strikers in Glory Kickboxing.

He became a two-division Glory Kickboxing champion (Middleweight & Light Heavyweight), defeating some of the best strikers in the world, including Israel Adesanya before both transitioned to MMA.

MMA Career & UFC Success

Pereira made his MMA debut in 2015 but fully committed to the sport in 2020. He signed with the UFC in 2021 and, with his deadly knockout power, quickly climbed the ranks.

Key UFC Moments:

✅ UFC 268 Debut – Knocked out Andreas Michailidis with a brutal flying knee.
✅ Defeated Sean Strickland (UFC 276) – One of the most devastating first-round KOs of 2022.
✅ Became UFC Middleweight Champion (UFC 281) – Defeated his longtime rival Israel Adesanya via TKO in Round 5, proving his dominance over “Stylebender” once again.
✅ Rematch with Adesanya (UFC 287) – Lost his title to Adesanya in a dramatic KO defeat.
✅ Move to Light Heavyweight (UFC 295) – Became a two-division UFC champion by defeating Jiří Procházka for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title.

Fighting Style & Legacy

Alex Pereira is known for his elite-level kickboxing, devastating left hook, and calculated striking. His power is unmatched, and he has transitioned seamlessly from kickboxing to MMA, becoming a dominant force in two UFC weight divisions.

With his journey from construction worker to two-division UFC champion, Pereira’s story is an inspiration. Now, as one of the scariest knockout artists in UFC history, fans eagerly await his next challenge—possibly a title defense against Magomed Ankalaev or a potential super-fight with Jon Jones!

💥 Will “Poatan” continue his reign of terror in the UFC? Stay tuned! 🏆🥊