Alex Pereira

He won the Glory 14: Zagreb - Middleweight Contender Tournament in Zagreb, Croatia on March 8, 2014, beating Dustin Jacoby by first-round knockout in the semi-finals and Sahak Parparyan by majority decision in the final.[9][10]

It was announced during the Glory 15: Istanbul broadcast that Pereira would be one of eight fighters competing in the Glory 17: Los Angeles - Last Man Standing middleweight tournament in Inglewood, California, United States on June 21, 2014.[11][12] He lost to eventual champion Artem Levin by unanimous decision in the quarter-finals to exit the tournament.[13][14][15]

He was scheduled to fight a rematch with César Almeida during WGP Kickboxing 25 for the vacant belt WGP Middleweight title. He defeated Almeida by decision.[16] He defended his WGP KB title with a second round KO of Maycon Silva at WGP KB 40.[17]

In his next five fights, Pereira went on a 4-1 run, losing only to the pound for pound great Artur Kyshenko.[18] During this run Pereira achieved his most famous victories, defeating the future UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya twice: once by unanimous decision, and once by a counter left hook KO.[19][20][21]

Pereira won the Glory Middleweight title with a unanimous decision win against Simon Marcus at Glory 46: China.[22]

Pereira met Yousri Belgaroui at the Glory 40 and Glory 49 Superfight Series,[23][24] and then in 2018 in New York Madison Square Garden at the Glory 55 for the Middleweight Title Match, where Belgaroui had received the overhand right knockout at 2:29 of Round 1.[25][26] For Pereira, it was the 28th career victory and the sixth inside the Glory ring.[23]

In November 2018, Pereira said he would pursue MMA career after his contract with Glory will expire in April 2019.[27] Eventually, Pereira re-signed with Glory with possibility to fight in the mixed martial arts also.[28]

After four straight successful Glory middleweight title defenses (against Yousri Belgaroui, Simon Marcus and Jason Wilnis),[29][30][31] Pereira moved up to fight Donegi Abena for the interim Glory Light Heavyweight Championship at Glory 68. Pereira won the fight via knockout in the third round, becoming the first double champion in Glory history.[32]

After winning the Light Heavyweight Championship, Pereira opted to defend his middleweight title against Ertugrul Bayrak at Glory Collision 2 on December 21, 2019. After largely dominating the first round, he won the bout via knockout at the end of the round.[33]

Pereira was scheduled to challenge Artem Vakhitov for the Glory Light Heavyweight title at Glory 77.[34] Pereira won the fight by split decision, becoming the first fighter in GLORY history to simultaneously hold two belts at the same time.[35]

Pereira was later stripped of his Middleweight title.[36]

Pereira rematched Artem Vakhitov at Glory 78: Arnhem in his first title defense.[37][38] He lost the rematch by majority decision.[39]

Transitioning from kickboxing, Pereira made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2015, losing the fight via submission.[40] Subsequently racking up two straight victories, Pereira announced he had signed a contract to face Diego Henrique da Silva in the Brazilian edition of Dana White's Contender Series on August 10, 2018.[41] However, the bout never materialized as Glory did not permit Pereira to compete.[42]

On October 22, 2020, news surfaced that Pereira had signed a contract with Legacy Fighting Alliance and he then made his promotional debut against Thomas Powell on November 20, 2020.[43] He won the fight with a counter left hook knockout.[44]

On September 3, 2021, Pereira signed with the UFC and was booked to make his promotional debut against Andreas Michailidis on November 6, 2021 at UFC 268.[2] He won the fight via TKO early in round two after knocking Michailidis down with a flying knee.[45] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[46]

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Andreas Michailidis[46]

Professional

• Glory
  • 2021 Glory Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 2019 Glory interim Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 2017 Glory Middleweight Champion (five defenses)
  • 2014 Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament Winner

• WGP Kickboxing
  • 2015 WGP Kickboxing Middleweight Champion
  • 2012 WGP -85 kg/187 lb Championship

• World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
  • 2013 WAKO Pro Panamerican K-1 -85 kg/187 lb Champion

Amateur

• World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
  • 2013 WAKO World Championships in Guaruja, Brasil K-1 -91 kg

Awards

• 2019 CombatPress.com Knockout of the Year vs. Jason Wilnis[48]