After just a few short years of competing inside the Octagon, Alex Pereira will headline the biggest event in UFC history.
On Saturday, April 13, ‘Poatan’ will put his light heavyweight title on the line at the top of a stacked UFC 300 lineup featuring 12 current or former world champions. Anyone who has seen Pereira’s work can certainly understand why the promotion opted to put him in such a huge spot.
Still, it’s pretty impressive when you consider that Pereira has only competed inside the Octagon seven times since making his UFC debut in November 2021.
Speaking with UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier ahead of his massive moment on MMA’s grandest stage, Pereira admitted to being surprised by how fast he was able to work his way up the ranks, though he couldn’t be happier about it.
“It is a big surprise for me that it happened this fast,” Pereira said through a translator. “I knew it was going to be fast with the background that I have in fighting. I’m surprised, but I’m very happy.”
Asked what the most exciting part was about his newfound fame, Pereira said it was a mixture of everything, but most of all, the ability to provide a better life for his family is what stands above the more glamourous aspects.
“Mainly for my family,” Pereira said. “To be able to give them a better quality of life and being able to provide better for them. To take care of my parents and provide for the kids. And everything else, fans too, but first comes the family.
“Even being able to inspire people and showing that I came from very humbling beginnings and that it’s not impossible to reach where I got. Everything is possible. Just the fact that I can motivate so many people is a great part of it.”
Alex Pereira Doesn’t Care If Jamahal Hill is Injured or Not — the Plan Remains the Same
When Alex Pereira steps inside the Octagon at UFC 300, he’ll be tasked with taking out Jamahal Hill, a former 205-pound titleholder hellbent on reclaiming the crown he never lost. ‘Sweet Dreams’ captured the light heavyweight strap in January 2023 with a dominant performance against Glover Teixeira — Alex Pereira’s friend and mentor.
Sadly, Hill was forced to vacate the belt after suffering an Achilles injury in July.
Returning from such a devastating setback after nine months, many pundits have questioned whether Hill will be 100% come fight night. Asked about his opponent’s injury, Pereira made it clear that he was treating this fight like any other. He’s going to go out and attempt to execute his game plan, regardless if his opponent is healthy or not.
“I’m gonna do the same thing I always do regardless if he’s injured,” Pereira said. “People might think I’m hitting him over there because he’s injured, but I’m just going to try to explore the same game plan that I always do.”
Watch the full interview below:
