Alex Oliveira became a top welterweight two years after signing with the UFC, but his journey to the sport was a troubled one. From the disappointment in his failed attempt to become a bull rider to drug addiction, “Cowboy" had to overcome many battles before succeeding in the Octagon.
Oliveira was always one of those kids that wouldn’t stand still. Born in Tres Rios, a small town in the mountains, 90 miles away from Rio de Janeiro and surrounded by large farms, it didn’t take long for him to fall in love with the animal life.