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Only a few athletes in blended martial arts can boast a journey as outstanding as Alex “Poatan” Pereira’s. From a multiple-division kickboxing champion to turning into a two-division champion within the Final Combating Championship, regardless of solely eight fights below the promotion’s banner.
Pereira’s story is one in every of resilience, adaptability, and unwavering willpower. This text will go over the inspiring fight sports activities profession of UFC Mild Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, exploring the pivotal moments which have formed him into the MMA phenom he’s in the present day.
The Early Days: A Kickboxing Prodigy
Alex Pereira was born on July 7, 1987, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He grew up in one in every of Brazil’s notorious favelas and dropped out of center college to work as a bricklayer’s assistant. Pereira’s journey into the world of kickboxing began as a approach for him to kick a ingesting drawback he had picked up from his work associates. He began honing his placing expertise in a health club not removed from his house in 2009, however little did he know superstardom was on the horizon.
4 years later, Pereira began taking novice kickboxing matches, going 2-1 earlier than deciding to show professional. He gained the Brazilian 187 lbs Championship in his first skilled battle towards Clei Silva and went on to win a pair extra belts earlier than transitioning to Glory. He gained the promotion’s middleweight title throughout his second outing and went on to defend the belt 5 instances. Certainly one of his most notable wins throughout his Glory run was his victories towards fellow kickboxing star Israel Adesanya. Little did both man know they’d find yourself being rivals in a special sport.
Kickboxing Success: Rise To Prominence
Pereira’s breakout second got here when he joined Glory Kickboxing, one of many premier kickboxing organizations on the planet. His power-packed punches and devastating kicks rapidly made him a fan favourite. He gained the Glory Middleweight Championship twice, showcasing his dominance within the kickboxing realm.
A Distinctive Model: Placing Excellence
What set Pereira aside from many different kickboxers was his potential to combine conventional kickboxing strategies with a novel aptitude. His placing excellence was marked by exact timing, knockout energy, and an unrelenting pursuit of victory. Pereira’s memorable knockouts have been the stuff of spotlight reels, and he established himself as one of the crucial feared middleweights within the sport.
Pereira went on to win Glory’s light-heavyweight title as properly, turning into the primary fighter within the promotions to carry the middleweight and heavyweight titles concurrently.
The Transition: Embracing MMA
Pereira made the daring determination to transition from kickboxing to MMA in 2015, shedding his first battle through rear-naked choke. The attract of latest challenges and the chance to check his expertise within the cage have been irresistible, particularly given the success his rival Israel Adesanya was having fun with contained in the cage. Regardless of his immense success in kickboxing, the change to MMA was no straightforward activity.
Coaching And Adaptation
Pereira understood that succeeding in MMA required a special ability set. He dedicated himself to rigorous coaching circled round Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling. The transition from the striking-focused world of kickboxing to the multifaceted realm of MMA was a frightening one, however Pereira was decided to make it work.
Pereira made his MMA debut below the banner of Jungle Fights, a distinguished MMA group based mostly in Brazil. His debut battle was met with nice anticipation, however he didn’t get the outcomes he had hoped for. Defeated however not damaged, Pereira went on to knock out his subsequent 4 opponents. His placing prowess was evident, and his string of victories earned him a spot on the UFC’s roster.
Instantaneous Influence
The MMA world took discover of Pereira’s immediate impression within the UFC. His placing pedigree allowed him to face out within the cage, and it was clear that he was greater than only a kickboxer testing the waters. He was a official menace to the established contenders within the division.
Pereira gained three consecutive fights within the UFC, defeating former middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who was a prime contender then, on his approach to a title shot towards Adesanya.
The hype was at an all-time excessive when the 2 kickboxing standouts met contained in the cage, with each fighters showcasing their well-rounded MMA expertise, touchdown takedowns on one another. Alex was down on the scorecards heading into the fifth spherical, however he pulled off the comeback victory by ending Adesanya within the fifth.
The Extremely Anticipated Rematch
Pereira’s win towards Adesanya earned him the middleweight title and set the stage for a rematch between the 2 rivals. They met for the second time contained in the cage at UFC 287 and it was Adesanya who acquired the higher of the exchanges this time round, knocking Pereira out chilly in the course of the second spherical, bringing their rivalry to 1-1 in blended martial arts.
Alex shook the loss off with out lacking a beat and made his 205 lbs debut towards former light-heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz, successful through break up determination. He went on to defeat Jiří Procházka for the belt at UFC 295, on the similar Area he defeated Adesanya to win the middleweight title.
Moments after the battle, Pereira known as out Adesanya, difficult him to battle for the light-heavyweight title. Curiously sufficient, the callout wasn’t due to any dangerous blood between the 2. Adesanya had lately expressed his intent to stroll away from MMA for a number of years, however Alex believes he merely wants an opponent who motivates him to compete.
Extra lately, Pereira headlined UFC 300 and defeated prime contender Jamahal Hill within the first spherical by KO, retaining the belt and additional cementing his standing as one of many promotion’s prime stars.
A Outstanding Journey
Alex Pereira’s journey from kickboxing champion to rising MMA phenom is a testomony to his dedication, adaptability, and uncooked expertise. His potential to transition seamlessly from one fight sport to a different has captivated the creativeness of battle followers worldwide.
Pereira stands as an emblem of what may be achieved by unwavering willpower and a relentless pursuit of greatness as he earned his rank as one of the crucial inspiring fighters in MMA historical past.
Pereira’s journey is an ideal showcase of what martial arts are supposed to symbolize. He’s needed to take care of a number of adversity, like getting choked out throughout his first MMA battle and shedding his first UFC title protection towards Adesanya, however he at all times perseveres and accomplishes his targets.
There’s no flash or gimmicks with Alex Pereira, only a stoic man who has tons of quiet confidence in himself and a strong understanding of the basics of preventing.
