Joe Rogan recently discussed Alex Pereira’s extraordinary journey to becoming a UFC champion, noting how quickly he reached the top ranks in the sport. In under three years, Pereira transitioned from a feared kickboxer into a two-division UFC champion, earning respect for his striking skills and dominance inside the octagon.
Reflecting on Pereira’s UFC debut, Rogan recalled telling Daniel Cormier that Pereira was the fighter to watch immediately. This prediction proved accurate when Pereira claimed the UFC middleweight belt at UFC 281 by defeating Israel Adesanya in only his fourth UFC bout.
From Middleweight to Light Heavyweight Champion in Record Time
Following the loss of his middleweight title to Adesanya in their rematch at UFC 287, Pereira moved up to the light heavyweight division. Within a year, he secured that championship as well, solidifying his unique place in MMA history. During episode #2337 of his podcast with Oliver Anthony, Rogan elaborated on Pereira’s fast rise:
“The best example of a quick rise to the top is Alex Pereira, but Alex Pereira is one of the greatest kickboxers of all time. When he entered the UFC, a lot of people were completely unaware of him, but me, as a giant kickboxing fan, I was like, when this f*cker comes over here, bodies are going to drop. I remember Daniel Cormier saying to me, ‘Really?’ and I said, ‘Dude, I’m telling you.’ I pointed to him in his debut and said, ‘That’s the f*cking boogeyman of boogeymen. He knocks people into orbit.’ I showed him videos of Pereira’s kickboxing fights and he was like, ‘Holy s***.’ I said, ‘Everybody he touches, he’s got the touch of death.” —Joe Rogan
Rogan also described how Pereira quickly dominated his UFC opponents:
“Then he started steamrolling people. Knocked out Strickland in one round. His first UFC fight, he hit that dude with a flying knee and just sent him into orbit. Within three years, he was a two-division world champion, which is nuts. Nobody’s done that before. Defended the light heavyweight title multiple times. He’s only been fighting MMA for five or six years.” —Joe Rogan
The Technical Edge That Powers Pereira’s Striking Success
Rogan emphasized the technical prowess that sets Pereira apart in MMA. As a kickboxing legend, Pereira brought world-class striking skills that proved superior to many opponents who rely heavily on grappling or jiu-jitsu without matching stand-up expertise. Rogan explained the significance of Pereira’s skill set in UFC competition:
“You can kind of be a specialist if you’re a striker. A striker, like, there [are] few guys that can pull it off if they’re really strong and they have good takedown defense. Like Pereira is the best example, right? Two-division world champion kickboxer comes over, dominates, becomes a two-division UFC champion as a striker because every fight starts standing up.” —Joe Rogan
A Defining Figure in Mixed Martial Arts
Alex Pereira’s UFC meteoric rise and striking dominance have made him a uniquely powerful figure in MMA, rapidly elevating him from kickboxing fame to UFC stardom. His movement from middleweight to light heavyweight champion in such a short time frame signals his exceptional versatility and skill. As he continues to defend his title and showcase his striking, Pereira remains a formidable presence that fans and fighters alike must respect, highlighting how striking expertise can translate to success at the highest level in mixed martial arts.