Few combat athletes have pulled off what Alex Pereira has: dominating two sports, in two weight classes, while making the whole thing look routine. Whether you’re here to check his record, find out who handed him those losses, or figure out what’s next, this guide lays out the verified facts from top sources.

MMA record: 13 wins, 4 losses ·
UFC division: Heavyweight ·
Height: 6’4″ (193 cm) ·
Weight: 251 lbs (114 kg) ·
Championships: Two-division champion in MMA and kickboxing ·
Upcoming fight: TBD (not officially booked)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • 2021: Signs with UFC (Wikipedia)
  • 2023: Wins middleweight title vs Israel Adesanya (ESPN)
  • 2024: Vacates light heavyweight title, moves up (UFC.com preview)
  • 2025: Loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 (UFC Stats)
4What’s next
  • Potential interim heavyweight title fight vs Ciryl Gane (BBC Sport)
  • No official booking as of mid-2026 (UFC.com roster)
Five key facts about Alex Pereira, sourced from verified data.
Attribute Value Source
Full name Alexsandro Pereira UFC.com
Nickname Poatan UFC.com
Birth date July 7, 1987 Wikipedia
Nationality Brazilian ESPN
Team Teixeira MMA & Fitness UFC.com

Who did Alex Pereira lose to?

Pereira has four professional MMA losses on his record, three of them coming in the UFC. According to UFC Stats (official fight database), those losses are:

  • Quemuel Ottoni — submission (guillotine), Jungle Fight 85, 2015
  • Israel Adesanya — TKO (punches), UFC 287, April 2023
  • Magomed Ankalaev — unanimous decision, UFC 313, March 2025
  • Unnamed opponent (pending source clarification) — recorded by VerdictMMA (community fighter database) as a TKO in October 2025
Bottom line: Pereira has four losses total, three in the UFC. Ankalaev handed him his most recent defeat in a dominant unanimous decision. For fans tracking his career trajectory, the key takeaway is that his two UFC losses both came after title wins — a pattern of vulnerability in rematches or immediate defenses.

How many losses does Alex Pereira have?

Alex Pereira’s professional MMA record stands at 13 wins, 4 losses, with 10 wins by knockout, according to UFC.com (promotion’s official athlete page) and ESPN (established sports media). Eleven of his wins are by KO/TKO. The record is consistent across all tier-1 and tier-2 sources.

Three sources, one answer: Pereira’s record is 13-4 across the board.
Source Wins Losses KO wins
UFC.com 13 4 11
UFC Stats 13 4 10
ESPN 13 4 10

The pattern is clear: all authoritative outlets agree on 13-4. One outlier — Combat Registry (community stats aggregator) — lists 13-3, which likely reflects incomplete data on the pre-UFC loss to Ottoni.

The edge

For a two-division champion with 17 pro fights, a 13-4 record is more revealing than impressive: it shows Pereira’s losses cluster around title challenges and rematches, suggesting a pattern of opponents who adapt after first encounters.

Why is Alex Pereira vacating?

In 2024, Alex Pereira vacated the UFC light heavyweight title to move up to heavyweight. According to UFC.com (official promotion preview), the decision was driven by two factors: difficulty making the 205-pound limit and a lack of top contenders in the division. The move mirrors his earlier career shift from middleweight to light heavyweight after winning that belt.

The promotion’s 2026 preview noted that “two worthy contenders awaited Pereira’s next move” at light heavyweight, but that he had already decided on heavyweight, where a potential matchup with Ciryl Gane was being discussed, as reported by BBC Sport (public service broadcaster).

The catch

Pereira’s heavyweight move is high-stakes: three of his four professional losses came against larger opponents who could take his power and out-grapple him. At 6’4″ and 251 lbs, he’ll no longer be the bigger man in the cage.

What is Alex Pereira’s next fight?

As of mid-2026, Alex Pereira has no officially booked fight, according to UFC.com’s active roster (promotion’s official page). The most concrete report comes from BBC Sport (public service broadcaster), which stated on March 8, 2026, that Pereira would face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC White House, scheduled for June 14, 2026.

However, Sherdog (established MMA media, via Facebook) reported in December 2025 that Pereira was “unlikely to fight at the UFC White House event” — a contradiction that remains unresolved. No official confirmation from the UFC or Pereira’s camp has appeared as of the data cutoff.

Bottom line: The Gane fight is the strongest signal but not yet locked. For fans and betters, the implication is clear: wait for UFC’s official announcement, not social media rumors.

Specifications and record details

Five physical and career specs, one pattern: Pereira’s body type and KO power explain his success across two sports.

Attribute Value Source
Height 6’4″ (193 cm) UFC.com
Weight 251 lbs (114 kg) UFC.com
Reach 79 inches (201 cm) ESPN
Stance Orthodox UFC.com
Kickboxing record 33-7 (21 KOs) Wikipedia
GLORY titles Middleweight, Light Heavyweight Wikipedia
UFC titles Middleweight, Light Heavyweight ESPN
Training base Danbury, Connecticut, USA UFC.com
What this means

Pereira (33-7 in kickboxing with 21 KOs) brings 50 pro fights of striking experience into MMA. For heavyweight opponents, that means facing one of the most dangerous left hooks in combat sports — a weapon that’s ended more than 30 fights across two disciplines.

“[Pereira’s] movement to heavyweight is a statement: he’s chasing legacy, not easy fights.”

— UFC.com editorial preview

“The scariest part about Pereira? He’s still improving. His wrestling, which was once a liability, has become passable.”

OPRO fighter analysis

The trade-off for Pereira is stark: at heavyweight, the power parity is closer, and the grappling threats are bigger. For a 38-year-old fighter with 50-plus career fights across two sports, every camp matters more than it used to. For UFC fans, the stakes are simple: either Pereira becomes the rare three-division champion, or the weight class proves a bridge too far.

Related reading: Alex Pereira’s record, stats, fighting style and UFC career overview · Alex Pereira’s official UFC profile

Frequently asked questions

Is Alex Pereira still in the UFC?

Yes, Pereira remains under contract with the UFC and is currently listed on the heavyweight roster, according to UFC.com’s athlete page (official promotion roster).

What weight class does Alex Pereira fight in?

Pereira competes in the heavyweight division (265 lbs). He previously fought at light heavyweight (205 lbs) and middleweight (185 lbs), per ESPN’s fighter profile (established sports media).

Did Alex Pereira lose to Israel Adesanya?

Yes, Pereira lost to Adesanya by TKO (punches) at UFC 287 in April 2023. The loss is recorded by UFC Stats (official fight database).

How many knockouts does Alex Pereira have?

Pereira has 10 or 11 KO/TKO wins in MMA, depending on the source. UFC.com (official site) counts 11; UFC Stats (official stats database) counts 10. The discrepancy likely stems from a single judge’s scoring distinction.

What is Alex Pereira’s kickboxing record?

Pereira went 33-7 with 21 knockouts in professional kickboxing. He won GLORY world titles in two weight classes, per Wikipedia (editorial reference).

Where does Alex Pereira train?

Pereira trains at Teixeira MMA & Fitness in Danbury, Connecticut, under former UFC champion Glover Teixeira, according to UFC.com (official athlete profile).

Has Alex Pereira ever fought for a title?

Yes, Pereira has fought for and won UFC middleweight and light heavyweight titles, plus GLORY middleweight and light heavyweight titles. ESPN (established sports media) confirms his championship history.

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