Alex Pereira — Statistics and Career Overview
Alex Pereira is a Brazilian striker who rose from GLORY Kickboxing stardom to become a two-division champion in the UFC. As of August 22, 2025, his professional MMA record stands at 12–3–0, with 10 KO/TKO wins. His next booking is the Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev fight on October 4, 2025 (UFC 320), a rematch for the light heavyweight title. Fans searching for alex pereira next fight will find that bout confirmed on ESPN’s fighter page. Pereira’s nationality is Brazilian, he fights out of Teixeira MMA & Fitness, and his height is 6’4″ (193 cm)—details that often headline searches for alex pereira stats, alex pereira height, and alex pereira nationality.
Beyond numbers, two frequent queries are alex pereira religion and alex pereira wife. Public reporting has shown a 2015 video of Pereira reciting the Shahada and discussing an exploration of Islam; however, his current religious practice is not something he emphasizes publicly. Regarding family, reputable summaries note that he has two sons with his ex-wife; he keeps present relationships private.
Kickboxing Career
Total Fights, Wins, and Knockouts
Before the Octagon, Pereira built a formidable reputation in kickboxing: 40 total bouts, 33 wins, 21 by KO, and 7 losses. Those figures underscore why “Poatan” (“Stone Hands”) entered MMA with elite striking pedigree.
Glory Titles and Championship Defenses
Pereira’s journey to the top has been one defined by perseverance. Starting his career in the packed middleweight division, he showcased his dynamic striking and relentless cardio by capturing their prestigious championship belt. His reign of terror saw four middleweight title defenses as he cemented himself as the king of the weight class. However, Pereira was not one to rest on his laurels, pushing himself to conquer new heights. He set his sights on dual division dominance, moving up to stake his claim at light heavyweight as well. In a battle of attrition against Donegi Abena, Pereira emerged victorious to lay claim to the interim 205 pound title. His battle for undisputed status against the wily Artem Vakhitov would be his toughest test yet, but through grit and tenacity Pereira emerged as the victor, cementing his place in history as GLORY’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion.
Notable Opponents in Kickboxing
His kickboxing résumé features wins or rivalries with Simon Marcus, Yousri Belgaroui (twice), Jason Wilnis, Donegi Abena, and Artem Vakhitov. The long-running combat sports thread with Israel Adesanya also began in the ring before spilling into MMA.
MMA Career Statistics
MMA Debut and Record Breakdown (Wins/Losses)
Pereira debuted in 2015 and quickly showed that his striking translates to the cage. His current MMA record is 12–3–0: 10 wins by KO/TKO, 2 by decision; losses by submission (Quemuel Ottoni, 2015), KO/TKO (Israel Adesanya, 2023), and decision (Magomed Ankalaev, 2025)—answers to the common query who did alex pereira lose to.
UFC Performance Stats (KOs, Rounds, Fight Bonuses)
Within the UFC’s Octagon, Pereira has achieved a 9–2 record across eleven appearances since joining the promotion from other organizations. With lightning-quick hands and heavy power, he has stopped ten opponents via strikes, earning him multiple “Performance of the Night” bonuses for his highlight-reel knockouts. Astoundingly, Pereira holds the most accurate significant strike completion percentage in UFC history among those with over one thousand attempts—a remarkably precise 62%. These accolades and accomplishments have come to define Pereira’s reputation, as keyword searches for his name often surface links to pages detailing his highlights, stoppages, and statistical feats inside the cage.
Title Fights and Championship History
- UFC 281 (Nov 12, 2022): After four grueling rounds of fighting’s finest warriors locked in a brutal battle of wills, Pereira landed a crushing blow in the final round to seize the Middleweight crown from Adesanya’s grasp in a shocking upset.
- UFC 287 (Apr 8, 2023): Seeking revenge in the rematch, Adesanya ended matters abruptly in the second stanza, flooring Pereira with a picture perfect counter to reclaim his throne.
- UFC 295 (Nov 11, 2023): Moving up to the 205-pound division, Pereira dominated former champion Procházka with an explosive barrage of strikes to claim the newly vacant Light Heavyweight title in stunning fashion.
- UFC 300 (Apr 13, 2024): In his first title defense, Pereira sent a message to the entire weight class with a highlight reel spinning back kick that left contender Hill unconscious on the canvas.
- UFC 303 (Jun 29, 2024): Pereira and Procházka engaged in a rematch for the ages, with the Brazilian again emerging victorious via the knockout route to firmly cement his place atop the light heavyweight landscape.
- UFC 307 (Oct 5, 2024): Pereira’s thunderous hands left Rountree a crumpled heap to retain his title and further strengthen his reign of terror over the light heavyweights.
- UFC 313 (Mar 8, 2025): In a close and competitive battle, Ankalaev utilized his well-rounded skills to dethrone Pereira via unanimous decision, handing him his first loss in the division.
This set the stage for an immediate must-see rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev to determine the true light heavyweight king at UFC 320.
UFC Career Timeline
UFC Debut and Early Matches
Pereira’s UFC debut came at UFC 268 against Andreas Michailidis, a second-round TKO that announced his arrival, followed by wins over Bruno Silva and a first-round KO of Sean Strickland—a run that teed up the Adesanya title fight.
Middleweight Championship Reign
He dethroned Adesanya at UFC 281 but dropped the immediate rematch at UFC 287. That 1–1 split with Izzy at middleweight pushed Pereira to seek new frontiers at 205.
Light Heavyweight Title and Recent Fights
Switching divisions, Pereira edged Jan Błachowicz at UFC 291, then captured the vacant belt by stopping Jiří Procházka at UFC 295. Explosive title defenses followed: a left-hook KO of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, a head-kick finish in the Procházka rematch at UFC 303, and a fourth-round stoppage vs Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307—a blistering championship calendar that set a modern tempo record for three defenses. After the alex pereira vs magomed ankalaev bout at UFC 313 (UD loss), the rematch was booked for UFC 320 (October 4, 2025).
Notable Achievements
UFC Two-Division Champion
Pereira is one of a select few to claim titles in two UFC divisions, uniquely doing so at Middleweight and Light Heavyweight—a milestone often cited when discussing his legacy among all-time great strikers.
Glory Two-Division Champion
Long before his UFC belts, he became GLORY’s first simultaneous two-division champion, a rare double achieved via dominant middleweight defenses and success at light heavyweight.
Performance of the Night Awards and Records
Pereira has stacked Performance of the Night bonuses (including vs. Strickland, Adesanya, and Procházka) and owns the highest significant strike accuracy in UFC history (≈62%). He also logged a record-fast sequence of three title defenses within 175 days during his 205-lb reign, underscoring elite consistency at championship level.
Rankings and Recognition
Current UFC Rankings
Since losing the belt at UFC 313, Pereira has remained the No. 1 light heavyweight contender on several ranking trackers, directly behind champion Magomed Ankalaev—a positioning that underlines the stakes of alex pereira vs ankalaev II at UFC 320. (Official UFC rankings update weekly; independent trackers routinely list Pereira at #1 LHW.)
Recognitions by Media and Analysts
Mainstream outlets have consistently spotlighted Pereira’s finishing prowess and efficiency. ESPN’s page confirms the 12–3 overall slate with 10 KO/TKO wins, and Reuters documented the decision loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313 that set up the current storyline. Across MMA media, he’s frequently placed in or near the men’s pound-for-pound top 10 during his LHW title run.
Legacy in Combat Sports
Stacking GLORY titles on top of dual UFC championships positions Pereira as a rare athlete who dominated two sports at world-title level. Whether one looks at alex pereira ufc, his GLORY defenses, or his historically high striking accuracy, the through-line is the same: elite timing, concussive power, and a willingness to face the most dangerous names available—now epitomized by the high-stakes alex pereira vs magomed ankalaev fight on October 4.