Alex Pereira continues to be one of the crucial superior fighters in MMA, each inside and out of doors of the cage.
In a clip from the just-released UFC 307 Countdown present selling his combat in opposition to Khalil Rountree Jr. on October fifth in Salt Lake Metropolis, Pereira returned to his hometown in Sao Bernardo do Campo to supervise a meals supply for households in want. It’s under no circumstances a one-time factor. Pereira has been giving again to his neighborhood repeatedly since making thousands and thousands within the UFC.
“I’ve been blessed and I wish to share these blessings with you,” Pereira stated over a microphone to an assembled crowd because the meals is being handed out. “The cameras are right here not for me to point out off however to encourage folks to donate to these in want. I feel we will make a distinction not solely in your lives however within the lives of many others.”
Alex Pereira provides again to the neighborhood he was born and raised in
“My actuality was theirs. I went by way of a variety of hardship, and my greatest worry was all the time being hungry. So if I can do one thing to assist, I will do it.”
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“That is the place I used to be born and raised,” he stated to the UFC 307 Countdown crew. “We’re going to provide away over a thousand [food] containers, serving to over a thousand households. It’s been one thing I’ve been doing for some time. My actuality was theirs. I went by way of a variety of hardship, and my greatest worry was all the time being hungry. So if I can do one thing to assist, I’ll do it.”
Pereira’s rags to riches story is one thing to behold. “Poatan” labored lengthy hours for years at a neighborhood tire store, to the purpose which you can see him within the background of Google Maps photos of the enterprise. He battled alcoholism and escaped the favelas, rising as much as develop into a two-division GLORY kickboxing champion and now two-division UFC champion.
“I feel my story has an enormous international affect,” he stated. “Immediately, I can see that. Clearly, folks from the favelas know the way arduous their lives are, they usually’re like, ‘This man got here from nothing and has gained all of it. He received the place he’s and is conquering the world.’”
“What I often say is that it isn’t inconceivable. It’s very robust. I understand how arduous it’s. I’ve been by way of quite a bit. However I’ve overcome the whole lot with dedication and coronary heart. I feel that made a giant distinction.”
Pereira is trying to defend his mild heavyweight title for the third time since successful the vacant title in November 2023. He’s made some huge cash by being the UFC’s go-to man to avoid wasting occasions, stepping in at UFC 295 when Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fell by way of as a result of a Jones damage. They tapped him to headline UFC 300 and he delivered in his combat in opposition to Jamahal Hill. After Conor McGregor withdrew from UFC 303, the promotion as soon as once more referred to as on Pereira.
Now Pereira is utilizing the cash he’s made to provide again to his neighborhood, proving he’s a champion in additional than simply preventing.