Alex Pereira, a Brazilian native from a humble background, has become a UFC middleweight champion after facing many obstacles along the way. But what sets him apart from other fighters is his unique fighting style and personal struggles with substance abuse, as well as his deep connection to his indigenous roots.
A Unique Fighting Style
Pereira’s striking style is called “jaguar style,” a variation of traditional strikes with different body angles while having both feet still planted on the ground. He used this style in his first UFC clash with Israel Adesanya in 2019, which he won in a fifth-round comeback.
Pereira’s former trainer, Belocqua Wera, believes Pereira can win against Adesanya again if he fights with jaguar style. Wera even had a dream before Pereira’s fight with Sean Strickland, in which he had to reconnect Pereira with his ancestors’ spirit, and Pereira won the fight.
Overcoming Personal Struggles
Pereira faced several personal struggles early on in his career, including addiction to drugs and alcohol. Despite these challenges, he was determined to succeed in mixed martial arts.
His first trainer, Wilson Nunes, saw Pereira’s potential and introduced him to Belocqua Wera, a top kickboxing master in São Bernardo do Campo, to help him achieve his goal of becoming a world-class kickboxer. Wera was reluctant to train Pereira but gave him a chance after he showed promise in a door-die match.
Pereira had a difficult time paying for his training due to his humble background and faced racism at the elite gym where he trained. However, he made the difficult decision to eliminate alcohol from his life and turned to kickboxing as a way to overcome his struggles.
Through his training, Pereira found a sense of purpose and direction that was missing from his life. Despite numerous obstacles that could have easily derailed his career, Pereira’s determination and drive to succeed was stronger than negative influences that surrounded him.
A Deep Connection to Indigenous Roots
Alex Pereira belongs to the indigenous Brazilian “Pataxó” tribe and has always been vocal about his Pataxó heritage. The Pataxó tribe faced challenges such as forced relocation and cultural erasure but have persevered and maintained their unique identity and language.
Pereira’s grandparents were indigenous, and Belocqua Wera helped him connect with his ancestors’ spirit. Wera even offered Pereira a special recipe, which included indigenous ingredients, to “heal” him from alcohol abuse.
In addition to his deep connection to his indigenous roots, Pereira is also a proud father of two sons named Lohan Vidal Silva and Alessandro Vidal Silva, who are avid followers of their father’s fighting career.
Conclusion
Alex Pereira’s journey to becoming a UFC champion is remarkable marked by his personal struggles and a deep connection to his indigenous roots. He may have encountered numerous obstacles, but he never gave up because of the unique fighting style he developed and the strong support system, including people like Belocqua Wera. Alex Pereira has blazed a new trail in MMA with jaguar style, but what makes him great as a fighter, is not just what he does in the ring,but also the inspiring story behind it.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
