What Happened to Alexander "Alex" Salvador Perez?
Alex Perez is an American professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC's Flyweight division. After earning a title shot in 2020, his career has been marked by significant injuries, fight cancellations, and periods of inactivity, though he continues to compete at a high level. As of May 30, 2026, he is scheduled to face Su Mudaerji at UFC Fight Night 277 in Macau.
Quick Answer
Alex Perez, a prominent UFC Flyweight fighter, has experienced a challenging but resilient career since his 2020 title shot. Plagued by injuries and fight cancellations, he has maintained his presence in the rankings through notable wins and losses. Most recently, he secured a TKO victory over Charles Johnson in January 2026, which also marked the final fight on his previous contract, leading to a new deal. As of today, May 30, 2026, Perez is scheduled to fight Su Mudaerji at UFC Fight Night 277 in Macau.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Professional MMA Debut
Alex Perez made his professional mixed martial arts debut at TPF 9, winning his first fight via knockout.
Earns UFC Contract on Dana White's Contender Series
Perez defeated Kevin Gray via anaconda choke on Dana White's Contender Series 5, securing a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
UFC Debut
Perez made a successful UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 123, defeating Carls John de Tomas via submission in the second round.
Fights for UFC Flyweight Championship
Alex Perez challenged Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC 255 but lost via first-round guillotine choke.
Fight Canceled Due to Medical Issue
His scheduled bout against Manel Kape at UFC on ESPN 43 was canceled on fight day after Perez suffered a seizure during his warm-up.
Loss to Muhammad Mokaev
Perez lost to Muhammad Mokaev via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 238, marking a return to active competition after a period of inactivity.
Knockout Win Over Matheus Nicolau
Perez secured a significant second-round knockout victory over Matheus Nicolau at UFC on ESPN 55, earning a Performance of the Night bonus.
Loss to Tatsuro Taira Due to Knee Injury
Perez lost to Tatsuro Taira via technical knockout in the second round at UFC Fight Night: Perez vs. Taira, suffering a knee injury (torn ACL) that led to another long layoff.
Withdraws from Steve Erceg Fight
Perez pulled out of a scheduled bout against Steve Erceg at UFC on ESPN 72 in mid-July due to undisclosed reasons, leading to the fight's cancellation.
Loss to Asu Almabayev in Qatar
Returning to action in Doha, Qatar, Perez lost to Asu Almabayev via guillotine choke submission in the third round at UFC Fight Night 265.
TKO Win Over Charles Johnson and New Contract
At UFC 324, Perez defeated Charles Johnson via first-round technical knockout. Despite missing weight, this win, being the last on his contract, led to him re-signing with the UFC.
Scheduled Fight Against Su Mudaerji
Alex Perez is scheduled to face Su Mudaerji at UFC Fight Night 277 in Macau, China, continuing his active 2026 fight schedule.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Alexander 'Alex' Salvador Perez, born March 21, 1992, is an American professional mixed martial artist who has been a consistent presence in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) Flyweight division since 2017. His journey to the UFC began with a strong regional record of 16-4 before earning a contract on Dana White's Contender Series in 2017. Perez quickly made an impact in the UFC, stringing together impressive wins that eventually led to a shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship against then-champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 255 in November 2020. Despite the opportunity, Perez lost the fight via a first-round guillotine choke, a defining moment in his career.
Following his title challenge, Perez entered a period marked by significant adversity, including numerous injuries, medical withdrawals, and fight cancellations. From 2021 to early 2024, he struggled with inactivity, with several bouts falling through. A particularly concerning incident occurred in March 2023 when his scheduled fight against Manel Kape was canceled on the day of the event after Perez suffered a seizure during his pre-fight warm-up. He later stated that this was not related to his weight cut. These setbacks severely hampered his momentum and ability to climb back into title contention.
2024 saw Perez return to more consistent action, albeit with mixed results. He lost to Muhammad Mokaev by unanimous decision in March 2024 but bounced back with a second-round knockout victory over Matheus Nicolau in April 2024, earning him a Performance of the Night award. However, his momentum was again halted in June 2024 when he lost to Tatsuro Taira via technical knockout due to a knee injury, which was later revealed to be a torn ACL, leading to another lengthy recovery period.
Perez made his return in November 2025, losing to Asu Almabayev via guillotine choke. A crucial turning point came in January 2026 at UFC 324, where he faced Charles Johnson. Despite missing weight by 2.5 pounds, Perez secured a first-round technical knockout victory. This win was particularly significant as it was the final fight on his UFC contract, and his performance led to him re-signing with the promotion, demonstrating the company's continued value in him. This period also saw him begin to fight outside the United States for the first time in his career, competing in Qatar and now Macau.
As of May 30, 2026, Alex Perez remains an active contender in the UFC Flyweight division, currently ranked #11. He is scheduled to fight Su Mudaerji at UFC Fight Night 277 in Macau today. His career continues to be a testament to his resilience, navigating through a series of injuries, weight-cutting challenges, and competitive losses to maintain his standing in one of the UFC's fastest divisions.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Alexander "Alex" Salvador Perez made different choices?