Get to know the details of the UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira's next and last fights, MMA record and more!
Alex Pereira, the man they call ‘Poatan,’ has become one of the UFC‘s biggest stars in record time. The Brazilian kickboxing legend turned MMA phenom has captivated fans with his devastating knockout power and stoic demeanor. His journey from GLORY kickboxing champion to UFC light heavyweight titleholder has been nothing short of remarkable.
Few fighters have climbed the ranks so quickly or made such an immediate impact in the octagon. What makes his story even more impressive is how he transitioned from kickboxing to MMA relatively late in his athletic career. Let us take a look into his MMA journey.
Also Read: ‘I Believe So’ – Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira Agrees on the UFC’s Biggest Star Claims!
The UFC light heavyweight champion is set to defend his belt against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313. This highly anticipated showdown takes place this weekend at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Ankalaev brings an impressive 20-1-1 record into the fight and is currently riding a 11-fight unbeaten streak.
The Dagestani fighter has been knocking on the title door for years now. Many fans and analysts believe this matchup presents one of the toughest tests of Pereira’s MMA career. Ankalaev’s wrestling credentials and southpaw counter-striking style could pose problems for the champion. The clash of styles should make for a fascinating tactical battle between two of the division’s elite fighters!
Pereira’s most recent octagon appearance came against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 in October 2024. The champion successfully defended his title with a fourth-round TKO victory. The fight wasn’t a walk in the park for Alex Pereira. Rountree arguably won the early rounds, landing some heavy shots that got the champion’s attention.
But as the fight progressed, Pereira’s pressure and precision took over. He systematically broke down the challenger before finishing him off. The victory marked Pereira’s third successful defense of his light heavyweight crown. This victory further cemented his status as one of the UFC’s most dominant champions.
Despite his incredible success, Pereira isn’t undefeated. He has tasted defeat twice in his MMA career. His first loss came in his professional debut back in 2015 against Quemuel Ottoni at Jungle Fight 82. Ottoni submitted the kickboxing champion via rear-naked choke in the third round.
This early setback showed that Pereira had much to learn about the ground game. His second and more famous loss came at the hands of Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 in April 2023. After defeating Adesanya for the middleweight title in their first UFC encounter, ‘The Last Stylebender’ got his revenge with a spectacular second-round knockout. The loss prompted Alex Pereira to move up to light heavyweight, which has proven to be a brilliant career decision.
Alex Pereira currently boasts an impressive 12-2 MMA record, with ten of those wins coming by knockout. His striking prowess has transferred beautifully to the smaller gloves of MMA. Since moving up to light heavyweight, Pereira has been perfect, going 5-0 with four finishes. Here is Alex Pereira’s MMA record:
| Fights | KO | Decision | Submission |
| Wins | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Losses | 1 | 0 | 1 |
The former alcoholic turned world-class athlete has overcome personal demons to reach the pinnacle of combat sports. At 37 years old, Alex Pereira defies typical career trajectories. While most fighters are winding down their careers at his age, ‘Poatan’ seems to be hitting his stride, showing no signs of slowing down as he continues to collect championship gold and highlight-reel knockouts!
(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)
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