What Happened to Alex Sandro Silva Pereira?
Alex Pereira is a highly decorated Brazilian combat sports athlete, renowned for his powerful striking in both kickboxing and mixed martial arts. He is a former two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and former UFC Middleweight Champion, making him the ninth fighter in UFC history to achieve two-division champion status. After vacating his light heavyweight title in April 2026 to pursue a third divisional championship, he made his heavyweight debut in June 2026, suffering a loss in an interim title bid, but remains actively pursuing a heavyweight title shot.
Quick Answer
Alex Pereira, known as "Poatan," is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer who has held titles in multiple weight classes across both sports. He is a former UFC Middleweight Champion and a two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. In April 2026, he vacated his light heavyweight title to move up to the heavyweight division, aiming to become the first three-division UFC champion. His most recent fight was a TKO loss to Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship on June 14, 2026. Pereira has expressed his intention to fight again in November 2026 as he continues his pursuit of the heavyweight title.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Wins Jungle Fight Middleweight Title
Alex Pereira secured the Jungle Fight Middleweight Title, marking an early achievement in his mixed martial arts career.
Becomes Glory Middleweight Champion
Pereira captured the Glory Kickboxing Middleweight Championship, a title he would successfully defend multiple times.
Becomes Glory Interim Light Heavyweight Champion
Alex Pereira made history by becoming the first fighter in Glory Kickboxing to hold two belts in different weight classes simultaneously, winning the interim light heavyweight title.
UFC Debut at UFC 268
Pereira made his highly anticipated UFC debut against Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268, winning via second-round TKO with a flying knee.
Wins UFC Middleweight Championship
In a highly anticipated bout at UFC 281, Alex Pereira defeated Israel Adesanya via fifth-round TKO to claim the UFC Middleweight Championship.
Loses UFC Middleweight Championship
Pereira lost his UFC Middleweight Championship in a rematch against Israel Adesanya, suffering a second-round knockout at UFC 287.
Light Heavyweight Debut
Alex Pereira moved up to the light heavyweight division, making a successful debut against former champion Jan Błachowicz, winning by split decision at UFC 291.
Wins Vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Pereira captured the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship by defeating Jiří Procházka via second-round TKO at UFC 295, becoming a two-division UFC champion.
Defends Light Heavyweight Title vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Alex Pereira successfully defended his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307, winning by TKO in the fourth round.
Loses UFC Light Heavyweight Championship to Magomed Ankalaev
Pereira lost his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship to Magomed Ankalaev via unanimous decision at UFC 313.
Reclaims UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
In a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 320, Alex Pereira defeated Magomed Ankalaev via first-round TKO, reclaiming the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Vacates UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Alex Pereira officially vacated his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, signaling his intention to move up to the heavyweight division.
Heavyweight Debut and Interim Title Loss
Pereira made his heavyweight debut at UFC Freedom 250, facing Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship, but lost the fight via second-round TKO.
Expresses Desire for November Heavyweight Fight
Following his heavyweight debut loss, Alex Pereira stated his desire to have another fight in the heavyweight division before the end of 2026, specifically eyeing a November return, to work his way back to a title shot.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Alex Sandro Silva Pereira, born on July 7, 1987, in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, carved out a formidable reputation in kickboxing before transitioning to mixed martial arts. His kickboxing career saw him achieve significant success, notably becoming the first fighter in Glory Kickboxing history to simultaneously hold titles in two weight classes: middleweight and light heavyweight.
Pereira signed with the UFC in September 2021, making a rapid ascent through the middleweight ranks. He quickly gained notoriety for his devastating knockout power, culminating in a fifth-round technical knockout victory over his long-time rival Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 in November 2022, securing the UFC Middleweight Championship in only his fourth UFC fight. However, he lost the title in a rematch against Adesanya in April 2023.
Following this loss, Pereira made the strategic decision to move up to the light heavyweight division. His debut in the new weight class was a split decision win over former champion Jan Błachowicz in July 2023. Just a few months later, in November 2023, he captured the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship by defeating Jiří Procházka via TKO at UFC 295, becoming a two-division UFC champion. He successfully defended this title against Jamahal Hill in April 2024 and Khalil Rountree Jr. in October 2024.
His light heavyweight reign saw a brief interruption when he lost the title to Magomed Ankalaev via unanimous decision in March 2025. However, Pereira swiftly reclaimed the championship in a rematch against Ankalaev in October 2025, winning by technical knockout in the first round. With two light heavyweight title reigns under his belt, Pereira set his sights on an unprecedented third UFC divisional title. In April 2026, he officially vacated the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship to pursue a move to the heavyweight division.
His heavyweight debut came on June 14, 2026, at UFC Freedom 250, where he faced Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship. Pereira suffered a second-round TKO loss in this bout, marking a setback in his quest for a third title. Despite the loss, Pereira remains highly motivated. As of August 2026, he has expressed a strong desire to return to the Octagon in November 2026, aiming to secure another fight at heavyweight to position himself for a future undisputed title challenge. He is currently ranked #4 in the Meta UFC heavyweight rankings and #9 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Alex Sandro Silva Pereira made different choices?