Alex Pereira Training - The Story Behind Poatan's Start

Many folks wonder about the exact moment a powerhouse like Alex Pereira began his path in combat sports. His journey, you know, didn't just kick off in the bright lights of big arenas. It started much earlier, a good while before he became a familiar face to so many, and it was shaped by some very real life experiences. This story, you see, is about more than just punches and kicks; it's about finding a way through tough times and building something remarkable from humble beginnings.

For someone who has reached such heights in both kickboxing and mixed martial arts, it’s quite natural to look back and ask, “When did Alex Pereira start training?” The answer, it turns out, isn't just a simple date on a calendar. It’s a tale woven with personal struggle, a desire for change, and, actually, a deep commitment to a new direction in life. His early days, in some respects, set the stage for the kind of competitor he would become, a person known for their incredible striking ability.

From the streets of São Bernardo do Campo in Brazil, where life could be pretty challenging, a young Alex Pereira found his way into a world that would transform him. His first steps into training were, you know, not about chasing championships or fame, but about something far more personal. This account will give you a closer look at the different stages of his development, showing how a young man from a difficult background found his true calling and, in a way, changed his entire existence.

Table of Contents

• Alex Pereira - A Quick Look
• When Did Alex Pereira Start Training - The Early Days
• What Prompted His Training Journey?
• Did He Start Training in Boxing First?
• The Kickboxing Chapter - From Gym to Glory
• When Did Alex Pereira Begin Kickboxing?
• Stepping into the MMA Arena
• How Did His Kickboxing Past Shape His MMA Future?

Alex Pereira - A Quick Look

Alex Pereira, often called "Poatan," which means "Hands of Stone," has certainly made a big mark in the fighting world. He holds a place as a former champion in a couple of weight divisions within the Glory kickboxing organization. He has also had a good run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His path to these achievements, you know, is quite something, starting from a difficult childhood and leading him to become a well-known figure in combat sports. He's known for hits that carry a lot of force, and that's something that has stayed with him through his career. It's important to remember that his story is one of determination and overcoming personal difficulties.

Personal Details and Bio Data

When Did Alex Pereira Start Training - The Early Days

So, when did Alex Pereira start training? This question takes us back to his younger years. It seems, according to various reports, that his initial steps into the world of martial arts began at a very young age, perhaps around twelve years old. This was not, perhaps, for formal competition right away, but more about finding a way to handle himself and, you know, build a sense of inner strength. His childhood in a favela, a community facing many challenges, meant that life was not always easy. He grew up surrounded by poverty, and there was, apparently, not a lot of formal guidance for him.

Working in a tire shop from the age of twelve, after leaving school, was his reality. This kind of life, you can imagine, would make a person look for something to hold onto, something to give them a sense of purpose or, at the very least, a way to protect themselves. His beginnings in training were, in some respects, a response to the environment he found himself in, a way to stand tall in a world that could be pretty unforgiving. It was a foundation, really, for everything that came later in his career, laying the groundwork for his future success in combat sports.

What Prompted His Training Journey?

It’s natural to wonder what truly pushed Alex Pereira to start training. Was it simply a desire to compete, or something more profound? As a matter of fact, his path into the fighting world was deeply connected to personal difficulties he was facing. He openly shared that he had a struggle with drinking. This issue, you know, became a major reason for him to seek out a different direction for his life. He needed a change, something to help him move away from habits that were not serving him well. Training became his escape, a way to redirect his energy and focus.

He started training in 2009, and his stated reason was to have a better quality of life and, very importantly, to get away from alcohol. This tells us that his initial motivation was not about becoming a champion or gaining fame, but about personal well-being. It was a choice for survival, a way to build a healthier existence. This personal battle, you know, shaped his approach to training, giving him a deep drive and a powerful reason to push himself. It made his commitment to the gym and to learning combat skills incredibly strong, basically transforming his outlook on life.

Did He Start Training in Boxing First?

When we look at the start of Alex Pereira’s journey, a common question is whether he began with boxing. And, you know, the answer is yes, he did have a notable time in amateur boxing before he became a well-known name in kickboxing and mixed martial arts. He reportedly took part in a good number of amateur boxing matches, twenty-eight of them, to be precise. His record during this time was pretty impressive: twenty-five wins, all of which came by way of knockout, with only three losses. This early experience, basically, gave him a solid foundation in striking.

This period in amateur boxing was, arguably, where he really started to hone the kind of hitting power that would become his trademark. The ability to deliver a knockout punch, which he’s so well-known for, was clearly something he developed during these early boxing days. It shows that his path into combat sports was not a sudden one, but a gradual progression, building on skills learned in one discipline before moving to another. So, yes, his first serious steps into organized fighting, it seems, were indeed within the boxing ring, which is pretty interesting when you think about it.

The Kickboxing Chapter - From Gym to Glory

After his time in amateur boxing, Alex Pereira made a very important shift in his training focus. He began to explore kickboxing, a discipline that would truly put him on the map. This move was, in a way, a natural progression for someone with his striking abilities. It allowed him to combine the hand skills he had developed with powerful kicks, creating a more complete and, you know, devastating offensive package. His entry into kickboxing was not just a change in sport; it was a turning point in his life, providing him with a structured environment to channel his energy and overcome personal struggles.

The gym became a place of transformation for him. It was here that he started to truly understand the nuances of kickboxing, learning how to put together combinations that included both punches and kicks. This period of his life, you know, was about more than just physical training; it was about building discipline and finding a new purpose. His dedication during these years was, apparently, what set him apart, allowing him to quickly rise through the ranks of the sport. He was, more or less, forging the fighter he would become, one powerful strike at a time.

When Did Alex Pereira Begin Kickboxing?

So, exactly when did Alex Pereira start training specifically in kickboxing? The information suggests that his formal introduction to this discipline happened in 2009. At this point, he was around twenty-one years old. It was during this time that he started working in a kickboxing gym, which, you know, gave him his very first direct experience with that particular martial art. This was a distinct phase from his earlier general martial arts journey or his amateur boxing. This was the moment he committed to kickboxing as his primary focus.

This decision to get into kickboxing, it seems, played a big part in helping him deal with his personal challenges. It provided him with a new routine and a positive outlet for his energy. He began to really hone his striking skills in a gym that was, apparently, not far from his home. Little did he know, at that time, that this step would eventually lead him to become a major figure in the sport, with superstardom on the horizon. His professional kickboxing career began a few years later, in 2012, at a Jungle Fight event. He then went on to compete for organizations like WAKO and the well-known Glory promotion, where he truly made his name. Over nine years of competition, he accumulated a record of thirty-three wins, with twenty-one of those coming by knockout, which is quite a feat, really.

Stepping into the MMA Arena

After achieving considerable success in kickboxing, Alex Pereira decided to take on a new challenge: mixed martial arts, or MMA. This was, you know, a significant step, as MMA combines various fighting styles, including striking, grappling, and wrestling. His transition to this new sport began in 2015, where he made his MMA debut. That first fight, it’s worth noting, ended in a loss for him by way of submission, which is a method of ending a fight that was not his strong suit, given his striking background. This initial outcome, however, did not deter him from continuing his path in the sport.

He then went on to secure a couple of victories in regional circuits in Brazil, which helped him gain more experience in the different aspects of MMA. These early fights were, in a way, crucial for him to adapt his skills to the broader demands of mixed martial arts. He then signed a contract with Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he continued to show his power, defeating opponents like Thomas. His journey into MMA was, basically, a testament to his willingness to grow and evolve as a fighter, moving beyond the comfort zone of kickboxing to embrace a new challenge.

How Did His Kickboxing Past Shape His MMA Future?

It’s pretty clear that Alex Pereira’s extensive background in kickboxing played a very big role in how his MMA future unfolded. His striking skills, which he developed over many years in kickboxing, became his main weapon in the MMA cage. This meant that when he entered the UFC, for example, opponents knew they had to be incredibly careful when standing and trading blows with him. His ability to deliver powerful strikes, particularly his left hook, was, and still is, a major threat. He made his UFC debut against Andreas Michailidis on November 6, 2021, at UFC 268, and he won that match by technical knockout in the second round, showing his striking prowess right away. He even earned a "Performance of the Night" award for that effort, which is quite something.

His kickboxing success, including his victories over fighters who later joined the UFC, like Israel Adesanya, gave him a certain level of confidence and, you know, a reputation even before he fully committed to MMA. This past experience meant he entered MMA with a very well-developed stand-up game, allowing him to focus on rounding out the other parts of his fighting style, like defending takedowns and working on his ground game. So, in a way, his kickboxing history provided him with a strong foundation, letting him build his MMA career around his already established strengths. It allowed him to become a formidable force in the sport, pretty quickly too, if you think about it.

To recap, Alex Pereira’s path into combat sports started with early martial arts training around age twelve, followed by a notable amateur boxing career. His dedicated kickboxing training began in 2009, driven by a desire to overcome personal struggles, leading him to become a two-division Glory champion. He then transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2015, making his UFC debut in 2021, where his powerful striking, honed through years of kickboxing, continued to define his fighting style.