10 Things To Know About Alex Pereira’s Kickboxing Career

Highlights

• Pereira’s journey to MMA success stemmed from overcoming alcohol addiction through kickboxing.
• He won his first kickboxing title in his professional debut, making waves in the Glory promotion.
• Pereira became the first simultaneous champion in Glory history after beating Vakhitov for the light heavyweight title.

The Brazilian had a successful career in kickboxing before stepping inside the octagon. Nowadays, Alex Pereira is regarded as one of the world’s best MMA fighters. However, his journey to the top began in a wholly different sport – kickboxing. Before “Poatan” ruled middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in UFC, he achieved similar dominance in Glory and other kickboxing promotions.

It’s worth noticing that Pereira, who drank heavily between the ages of 16 and 21, used kickboxing as a way to fight alcohol addiction and discover his Brazilian heritage, something he will showcase in his walkouts to the ring. Alex Pereira won a silver medal at the WAKO World Championship in 2013.

10 He Was Bested By The Future King Of Kings And Glory Titleholder, Sergej Maslobojev

World Association Of Kickboxing Organizations Is A Governing Body That Sanctions Amateur Fights In 120 Affiliate Countries

• It was Pereira’s only attempt at an amateur title.
• He already had professional bouts on his record.
• His amateur record is 2 – 1.

Pereira was close to realizing that goal in 2013. He knocked out Selby Devereux and was awarded a split-decision win over Mattia Faraoni. However, he didn’t find a way to win over Maslobojev. After three two-minute rounds, judges scored a fight in favor of a Lithuanian fighter.

9 Alex Pereira Won His First Kickboxing Title In His Professional Debut

It Was One Of The First Kickboxing Fights To Take Place Inside The Cage

• Jungle Fight was founded back in 2003.
• Pereira fought for the promotions in both K-1 and MMA matches.
• Jungle Fight switched from the ring to the cage.

Surprisingly enough, “Poatan” had a couple of professional fights before he even tested himself at the top tier of the amateur scene.

At Jungle Fights 37, he defeated Clei Silva via unanimous decision to win the promotion’s Brazilian K-1 Middleweight title.

8 Alex Pereira’s Rematch With Clei Silva Was For Another Title

The Two Fought For The WGP Kickboxing -85 Kg Title

• WGP Kickboxing is a defunct promotion that promoted the events between 2011 to 2019.
• “Poatan” won both fights.
• He also won the same title a second time in 2015.

The second bout between the two took place just four months after their first meeting. Alex Pereira went through Fabio Alberto to secure a position in the 4-man tournament finals. Also, this time the winner was rendered by the judges’ decision, and once again it was Pereira.

7 Alex Pereira Suffered His First Loss In Another Title Fight

The Brazilian Challenged Jason Wilnis For The Vacant It’s Showtime 85MAX Championship

• Jason Wilnis won the trilogy 2 – 1.
• He crushed Pereira’s title aspirations on two different occasions.
• Pereira beat him in the middleweight title defense at Glory 65.

The two exchanged strikes and combinations through the entire first round. In the second outing, Wilnis hit Pereira with the left hook to the body, sending him to the canvas. Just after a few seconds, Pereira hit the ground again after two jabs to the head. Finally, he collapsed after receiving a few low kicks to his left leg.

6 Alex Pereira Won The WAKO Pro Panamerican -85 kg/187 Lb Championship K-1 Rules Title

He Knocked Out Matias Adaro In The First Round

• Despite not winning the WAKO World Championship, Pereira grabbed another belt under the organization’s banner.
• WAKO Pro was established back in 1991.
• It was founded to allow fighters to compete both in amateur and professional circuit under the WAKO umbrella.

Back in 2013, he knocked out the Argentinian fighter with a right cross in the very first round. This was a formality, as Pereira knocked down Adaro twice before that.

5 Alex Pereira Began His Glory Tenure By Winning The 4-man Middleweight Contender Tournament

He Was Placed In The Glory Last Man Standing Middleweight Tournament

At the Glory 14 event in Zagreb, Pereira dominated Dustin Jacoby to earn a spot in the finals against Sahak Parparyan. Throughout all three rounds, the Brazilian relentlessly drove the action, relying on his boxing combinations to lead his offense.

This win secured him a place in the upcoming tournament to determine the first Glory middleweight champion.

4 The First Fight Between Alex Pereira And Israel Adesanya Took Place Back In 2016

It Was The Beginning Of A Multisport Rivalry

• It was their first meetingand took place in China.
• Israel Adesanya posed as a crowd favorite by walking out with the Chinese flag.

The two clashed at the premiere Glory of Heroes event in China. Adesanya was riding a 14-fight winning streak at the time. The two fought for an entire 15 minutes with the “Last Stylebender” utilizing his long legs to keep “Poatan” at the distance with the Brazilian putting his faith in his fists.

While waiting for the official decision, Adesanya looked confident about winning the fight, but the judges scored a bout in favor of Pereira.

3 Alex Pereira Met Israel Adesanya Again At Glory of Heroes 7

It Was Adesanya’s First Loss Via Knockout And His Final Kickboxing Bout

• Until then, Adesanya was never knocked out.
• This win set a foundation for their MMA rivalry.
• In a future interview, Adesanya will voice his doubts about Pereira following him to the UFC.

The two met almost a year after their first encounter. The event took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, so Pereira had a home-field advantage in opposition to their first meeting where Adesanya had the sympathy of Chinese fans.

Uncharacteristically for Pereira, he threw many more kicks than usual. This led to kicking exchanges with Adesanya. Finally, in the third round, the Brazilian fighter switched to his boxing and hit “The Last Stylebender” with a right-left combo, sending him to the canvas for the count.

This was Adesanya’s first stoppage loss in his fighting career and his final kickboxing bout as later he switched his focus to MMA.

2 Alex Pereira Finally Won The Glory Middleweight Title By Beating Simon Marcus At Glory 46: China

It Was Another Fruitful Journey To China For “Poatan”

• “Poatan” missed a couple of chances to get a title shot.
• He was eliminated from three contender tournaments.
• Still, he won the title on his first attempt.

Despite losing to Artem Levin in the Glory 17 Middleweight Last Man Standing tournament quarterfinals, Pereira received another chance. Unfortunately, he was bested by Jason Wilnis in Glory 20: Dubai Middleweight Contender Tournament, Semi-Finals. To make things worse, he also lost to Yousri Belgaroui in the middleweight contender tournament at Glory 40: Kopenhagen.

He finally earned his title shot at Glory 46, facing Simon Marcus. “Poatan” floored the defending champion with a powerful right hook in the second round. Despite Pereira’s relentless efforts to knock out Marcus in the fifth round, he couldn’t secure the knockout. Nonetheless, he secured the victory via unanimous decision, claiming the Glory middleweight title.

1 Alex Pereira Became The First Simultaneous Champion In Glory’s History

He Achieved That By Beating Artem Vakhitov For The Light Heavyweight Title At Glory 77: Rotterdam

• Alex Pereira was already the interim champion.
• “Poatan” was inducted into Glory Hall of Fames for his achievements.

Pereira entered as an interim champion, as he defeated Donegi Abena at Glory 68: Miami. The Brazilian fighter was more active with his hands and utilized clinching to limit his opponent. This paid off as he was awarded a unanimous decision win and the Glory lightweight title.

The two met again at Glory 78: Rotterdam with Vakhitov regaining the belt thanks to a major decision. It was Pereira’s final kickboxing bout.