Alex Pereira is pursuing an unprecedented third UFC championship, a feat only Vitor Belfort seriously threatened in 2015 before falling short against Chris Weidman at UFC 187. Belfort entered that middleweight title bout on a strong run of finishes and even had custom shirts printed celebrating an anticipated victory, but Weidman stopped him by knockout. Pereira, like Belfort, is 38 years old in his three-belt pursuit, though he enters as a clear favorite rather than an underdog.
Alex Pereira is stepping into rarified air at UFC White House on June 14, chasing a third UFC title in what would be one of the most ambitious championship pursuits in the promotion's history.
Pereira, known as "Poatan," holds the light heavyweight title and carries a professional record of 13-4-0. The Brazilian is 38 years old and stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach. His striking numbers are exceptional, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 62 percent accuracy rate — figures that place him among the most efficient punchers in the sport. He trains out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness and competes from an orthodox stance.
The only fighter to come close to capturing a third UFC belt was fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort, who challenged for the middleweight title at UFC 187 in 2015. Belfort entered that fight at 38 years old — the same age Pereira is now — off a string of highlight-reel finishes and reportedly had custom shirts made in anticipation of winning. Chris Weidman stopped him by knockout. Belfort's career record stands at 26-14-0, and he averaged 1.59 significant strikes per minute with 46 percent accuracy during his UFC run.
Weidman, the man who ended Belfort's bid, compiled a record of 16-8-0 across his career. The New Yorker stood six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach and was a relentless wrestler, averaging 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes — a skill set that ultimately neutralized Belfort's dangerous striking on that night.
Why it matters
- Pereira would become the first fighter in UFC history to win three separate divisional titles if successful
- His pursuit mirrors Belfort's 2015 run almost exactly in terms of age, nationality, and finishing power
- Unlike Belfort, who entered UFC 187 as an underdog, Pereira goes in as a clear favorite
- The outcome carries major implications for two divisions simultaneously
Sunday, June 14, 2026
