Alex Pereira Confirms Boxing Move After UFC Career — “They Didn’t Believe in Me in Kickboxing or MMA… I’ll Prove Them Wrong Again”

Alex “Poatan” Pereira, one of the most feared strikers in combat sports, has officially confirmed that he plans to transition to professional boxing once his UFC journey comes to an end. Known for his thunderous knockout power, ice-cold demeanor, and warrior mindset, Pereira’s declaration has sent shockwaves through both the MMA and boxing worlds.

“I’m definitely going to box,” Pereira said in an interview with Connect Cast. “I made it clear that I want to fight boxing. When I got into kickboxing, they didn’t believe in me. MMA, same thing. Boxing, they’ll say the same. I’m used to it. I don’t care. I just want to go out there and fight. It’s not about money — I like a challenge. I want to be the best.”

It’s a statement that encapsulates everything fans have come to know about Alex Pereira: fearless, ambitious, and relentlessly driven to test himself in every arena possible.

🥊 From Kickboxing King to MMA Conqueror

Before becoming one of the UFC’s most dominant champions, Pereira was already a legend in kickboxing. The Brazilian powerhouse made his mark in GLORY Kickboxing, where he became a two-division champion — holding both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles simultaneously, a rare feat in combat sports.

With his granite chin and devastating left hook, Pereira built a reputation as one of the most lethal strikers in the world. But his ambitions didn’t stop there.

In 2020, he decided to make the jump to mixed martial arts, signing with the UFC despite widespread skepticism. Many doubted whether a pure striker could survive in a world dominated by wrestlers and grapplers. Pereira silenced them all.

Within two years, he had climbed through the middleweight ranks, dethroning Israel Adesanya — the very man who had once beaten him twice in kickboxing — to become the UFC Middleweight Champion.

His win over Adesanya at UFC 281 cemented his place as one of the most compelling stories in modern combat sports: a man who refused to be limited by expectation, fear, or discipline.

💥 A Fighter Obsessed with Challenges

Pereira’s transition to boxing doesn’t come as a surprise to those who know him best. For “Poatan” — which means “stone hands” in his native Tupi–Guarani language — the thrill of combat has never been about comfort or safety.

“When I got into kickboxing, they said I wouldn’t make it,” he reflected. “When I joined the UFC, people laughed. I like proving people wrong. Boxing will be the same.”

Pereira’s attitude toward fighting has always been grounded in simplicity: step into the arena, face your opponent, and let your skills speak. There’s no trash talk, no theatrics, just pure, unfiltered competition.

This mindset is what’s made him so respected across all combat sports. While other athletes chase fame, Pereira chases purpose. He’s driven by a need to evolve, to push his body and spirit to their absolute limits.

In boxing, that drive will face its ultimate test.

🧠 A Calculated Move — Not a Cash Grab

In recent years, crossover fights between MMA fighters and boxers have become increasingly common — from Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather to Francis Ngannou’s upcoming bout with Anthony Joshua.

But Pereira insists that his move to boxing isn’t about chasing a payday.

“It’s not just about aiming for more money,” he said firmly. “I like a challenge. I want to be the best.”

Unlike many others who step into boxing as outsiders, Pereira brings with him a foundation perfectly suited for the ring. His kickboxing experience, elite striking mechanics, and tactical fight IQ could make him a legitimate contender — not just a spectacle.

And while he has yet to announce when the transition will officially happen, his statement implies that the wheels are already in motion. Fans are now wondering: who could Pereira face first in the boxing world?

⚔️ Possible Matchups — and Big Money Fights

If Pereira does make his boxing debut, he’ll join an increasingly intriguing wave of MMA-to-boxing crossovers. While the UFC likely won’t release him until he fulfills his current contract, the potential opponents waiting in boxing are mouthwatering.

Names like Canelo Álvarez, Dmitry Bivol, or even fellow MMA-turned-boxing star Francis Ngannou have already been tossed around by fans.

The idea of a matchup between Pereira and Ngannou — two former UFC champions known for their knockout power — would be a dream for fight fans. Meanwhile, a showdown with Canelo or Bivol would give Pereira the chance to test himself against true boxing royalty.

But Pereira isn’t thinking about matchmaking just yet. He’s thinking about mastery.

“I’m not doing this to play around,” he said. “If I box, it’s because I want to do it right. I’ll train, I’ll learn, and I’ll fight the best.”

It’s that dedication that separates him from most. Pereira doesn’t enter new arenas to survive — he enters to dominate.

💫 Legacy Beyond the Octagon

At 37 years old, Pereira knows time isn’t on his side. But that hasn’t stopped him before. His late start in MMA didn’t hinder him from becoming a UFC champion. His age didn’t stop him from knocking out elite fighters half a decade younger.

In fact, his late-career evolution has become part of his legend.

He’s a reminder that greatness isn’t confined to a timeline — it’s defined by conviction. Whether he’s throwing kicks, elbows, or jabs, Pereira’s spirit remains unshakable.

“I don’t care what people say,” he added. “I’m used to people doubting me. That’s what motivates me.”

And that’s the secret to Pereira’s power — not just his fists, but his mindset. He thrives in being the underdog, the outsider, the one who’s underestimated.

When he finally steps into a boxing ring, the story will be the same — another chapter in the saga of a man who refuses to be boxed in.

🥇 A True Warrior’s Path

For Alex Pereira, fighting has never been about records or rankings. It’s about truth — the truth found in competition, in discipline, and in proving what’s possible through sheer will.

Whether it’s kickboxing, MMA, or boxing, Pereira’s mission remains the same: to challenge himself and inspire others through action.

And as he prepares for this next great challenge, one thing is certain — wherever he fights next, the world will be watching.

Because when Alex “Poatan” Pereira steps into any ring, it’s not just a fight. It’s a statement.