Alex Pereira may be one of the scariest and most stoic fighters in combat sports today, but even the UFC light heavyweight champion has a soft spot.
“Poatan” is coming off a spectacular knockout finish over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 to earn his second-straight title defense. What was more impressive is that Pereira (and Prochazka) both accepted the title rematch on just two weeks notice. It was a huge save by both men and a massive victory for Pereira that has boosted his booming UFC stock even more.
Knocking people unconscious is not the only reason fight fans love Pereira. The former two-division GLORY champion is a true professional inside and outside of the cage. He rarely cracks a smile when speaking at press conferences or staring down an opponent and almost never seems fazed by anything going on around him. It’s quite unique to watch.
All of that said, Pereira is human just like all of us. He may have created this aura of invincibility inside of the Octagon, but even “Poatan” has a soft spot for a few things in life. This includes his family and fans, especially those trying to conquer tougher obstacles outside of the cage.
Earlier this week, a young fan asked Pereira to cut his hair. The Brazilian champion happily obliged, but after speaking with the kid about his ongoing battle with cancer the UFC champion couldn’t hold back his tears. It was one of the most vulnerable moments we’ve ever seen from Pereira.
Check it out below:
Alex Pereira breaks down in tears and needs a hug, while cutting hair of a kid diagnosed with cancer.
@AlexPereiraUFC pic.twitter.com/QPDke9X9LN— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) July 19, 2024