Alex Pereira

Alex Sandro Silva Pereira, known by his nickname “Poatan” (Tupi for “Stone Hands”), is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who became the first fighter in UFC history to hold world titles in both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, and who later made his heavyweight debut in 2026. Born on July 7, 1987, in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, Pereira grew up in difficult circumstances and channeled that hardship into combat sports, eventually becoming a multiple-time kickboxing world champion in Glory Kickboxing before transitioning to MMA.

In kickboxing, Pereira twice defeated Israel Adesanya — once by decision and once by devastating KO — and those results followed both men into the UFC. Pereira won the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 281 in November 2022, stopping Adesanya in the fifth round, before losing the belt in the rematch at UFC 287 and moving up to light heavyweight. There, he captured the vacant LHW title by stopping Jiri Procházka in a single round at UFC 295 in November 2023, and successfully defended it multiple times to establish himself as the division’s dominant force.

Pereira’s appeal lies in his old-school ferocity: a devastating left hook and right high kick that have produced knockouts at every level of competition, combined with a calm, unhurried demeanor that belies the violence he delivers inside the cage. His journey from poverty in Brazil to simultaneous rankings among the sport’s elite across two weight classes marks him as one of the most remarkable championship stories in UFC history.