Despite many thinking that Alex Pereira does not deserve to be in the UFC GOAT conversation yet, Ilia Topuria believes that Pereira is already in the GOAT category. Well, on his part.
In the pre-fight press conference, he said that Pereira is the GOAT, one of the GOATs.
“For me, he’s the GOAT, one of the GOATs, because we have a lot of them in the sport.”
He also added that regardless of the outcome this Sunday, Pereira will still join that list.
“But he’s going to join that list without any doubt. It doesn’t matter what’s going to happen on Sunday.”
Alex Pereira will be the co-main event against Ciryl Gane for the Interim Heavyweight title. Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria will go up against Justin Gaethje in the main event of the UFC Freedom 250.
Alex Pereira’s Backstory
Alex Pereira’s journey to UFC stardom is one of the most inspiring stories in combat sports. Born on July 7, 1987, in Brazil, Pereira dropped out of middle school and worked as a bricklayer’s assistant, where he developed an alcohol addiction.
His life changed in 2009 when he discovered kickboxing. Pereira went on to become a two-division GLORY champion, winning the middleweight title in 2017 and adding the light heavyweight belt in 2019. He also famously defeated Israel Adesanya twice in kickboxing.
After signing with the UFC, Pereira made his debut in November 2021 and quickly rose through the ranks. He captured the UFC Middleweight Championship by stopping Adesanya at UFC 281 before later moving up to light heavyweight and winning a second UFC title.
From a school dropout battling alcoholism to a two-division UFC champion and global superstar, Pereira’s rise proves that some of the greatest victories happen outside the cage.
From just being a middle school drop out, to being considered as one of the Greatest Of All Time UFC fighters, I would say he has already won not in the octagon, but in life.