Alex Pereira is, in various ways, the antithesis to conventional thinking when it comes to mixed martial arts. The 37-year-old started his MMA career in 2015, but took a four-year break before returning as a 33-year-old in 2020, an age in which many who convert fail to replicate the kind of success they have from another combat sport. Even his double-champ pedigree from Glory Kickboxing, including his famed wins over Israel Adesanya, seemed more like anecdotes to pump up the hulking, 6-foot-4 figure. When Pereira made his promotional debut against Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268, UFC color commentator and former double-champ Daniel Cormier admitted to having his own doubts, which were loudly put to bed when Pereira landed a flush flying knee in the second round.
Fighters Who Defended Their Belt Three Times In A Calendar Year
