History of Alex Pereira in Timeline
Alex Sandro Silva Pereira is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer, currently competing in the UFC Light Heavyweight division. He is the reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and former UFC Middleweight Champion, making him the ninth fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight divisions. Notably, he is the first to achieve this feat in both the middleweight and light heavyweight categories within the organization. His impressive background includes titles in kickboxing as a former Glory middleweight and light heavyweight champion, a distinction that makes him the first and only fighter to hold simultaneous Glory titles in two weight classes. Furthermore, Pereira is the only known fighter to be a two-division world champion in both MMA and kickboxing, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest combat athletes of all time.
July 1987: Birth of Alex Pereira
Alex Sandro Silva Pereira was born in July 1987. He would go on to become a renowned mixed martial artist and kickboxer, celebrated for his achievements in both sports.
2009: Started kickboxing to overcome alcoholism
In 2009, after struggling with alcoholism, Pereira began training in kickboxing as a way to overcome his addiction. This decision marked the beginning of his illustrious career in combat sports.
March 2014: Won Glory 14: Zagreb Middleweight Contender Tournament
On 8 March 2014, Pereira won the Glory 14: Zagreb Middleweight Contender Tournament in Zagreb, Croatia. He defeated Dustin Jacoby by first-round knockout in the semi-finals and Sahak Parparyan by majority decision in the final.
June 2014: Competed in Glory 17: Los Angeles
On 21 June 2014, Pereira competed in the Glory 17: Los Angeles - Last Man Standing middleweight tournament but lost to Artem Levin by unanimous decision in the quarter-finals.
2015: MMA debut at Jungle Fight 82
In 2015, Alex Pereira made his professional MMA debut at Jungle Fight 82 against Quemuel Ottoni, losing the fight via submission. He later secured two victories in the same promotion.
August 10, 2018: Scheduled to fight in Dana White's Contender Series
On August 10, 2018, Pereira was scheduled to fight Diego Henrique da Silva in the Brazilian edition of Dana White's Contender Series. However, the bout did not materialize as Glory did not permit him to compete.
November 2018: Announced transition to MMA
In November 2018, Pereira announced his intention to pursue a career in MMA after his contract with Glory was set to expire in April 2019. He eventually re-signed with Glory with the possibility to fight in MMA.
2018: Victory at Glory 55
In 2018, Pereira faced Yousri Belgaroui at the Glory 55 event at Madison Square Garden in New York. He won the Middleweight Title Match by knocking out Belgaroui in the first round.
April 2019: Glory contract expiration and re-signing
In April 2019, Pereira's contract with Glory expired, but he re-signed with the organization with the possibility to also compete in MMA.
December 2019: Defended middleweight title at Glory Collision 2
On 21 December 2019, after winning the Light Heavyweight Championship, Pereira defended his middleweight title against Ertugrul Bayrak at Glory Collision 2, winning the bout via knockout in the first round.
October 2020: Signed with Legacy Fighting Alliance
On 22 October 2020, news surfaced that Pereira had signed a contract with Legacy Fighting Alliance, marking a significant step in his MMA career.
November 2020: Promotional debut in Legacy Fighting Alliance
On 20 November 2020, Pereira made his promotional debut against Thomas Powell in Legacy Fighting Alliance, winning the fight via knockout in the first round.
February 2021: Top ranking in kickboxing
In February 2021, Pereira was ranked #1 in the kickboxing middleweight and light-heavyweight rankings, solidifying his dominance in the sport.
September 2021: Signed with UFC
On 3 September 2021, Alex Pereira signed with the UFC, marking a significant milestone in his MMA career.
November 2021: UFC debut and Performance of the Night
On 6 November 2021, Pereira made his UFC debut against Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268, winning the fight by technical knockout in the second round. This victory earned him the Performance of the Night award.
March 2022: Victory over Bruno Silva
On 12 March 2022, Pereira faced Bruno Silva at UFC Fight Night 203 and won the fight via unanimous decision, showcasing his striking prowess.
July 2022: Knocked out Sean Strickland at UFC 276
On 2 July 2022, Pereira knocked out Sean Strickland in the first round at UFC 276, earning the Performance of the Night award and a Crypto.com Fan Bonus of the Night third place award, valued at $10,000 in bitcoin.
November 2022: Aline Pereira's MMA debut
Alex Pereira's younger sister, Aline Pereira, who also competes for Glory, made her MMA debut on 18 November 2022.
November 2022: Won UFC Middleweight Championship
On 12 November 2022, Pereira faced Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 281, winning the bout via technical knockout in the fifth round. This victory earned him the Performance of the Night award.
April 2023: Announced move to Light Heavyweight division
On 13 April 2023, Pereira announced via Twitter that he would be moving up to the Light Heavyweight division, indicating a new chapter in his career.
April 2023: Loss to Israel Adesanya in UFC Middleweight Championship rematch
On 8 April 2023, Pereira lost his rematch against Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 287 via knockout in the final minute of round two.
July 2023: Victory over Jan Błachowicz at UFC 291
On 29 July 2023, Pereira faced former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz at UFC 291, winning the fight via split decision in a back-and-forth contest.
November 2023: Won UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
On 11 November 2023, Pereira competed against Jiří Procházka for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 295, winning the title via TKO stoppage in the second round. This victory earned him the Performance of the Night award, making him the 9th fighter in UFC history to become champion in two different weight divisions.
February 2024: Ranked #4 in UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings
As of February 2024, Alex Pereira is ranked #4 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings, showcasing his prominence in the sport.
April 2024: First title defence against Jamahal Hill
On 13 April 2024, Pereira made his first title defense against former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, winning the fight by knockout in the first round with a left hook.