🚨 GLOVER TEIXEIRA WANTED TO CREATE A CHAMPION. THEN ALEX PEREIRA WALKED INTO HIS GYM. Glover Teixeira says he always dreamed of producing a champion from his gym who would go even further than he did. Then Alex Pereira showed up. At the time, Glover was preparing for some of the most dangerous light heavyweights in the UFC, while Alex was training alongside him and sharpening his kickboxing. Glover remembers Alex seeing how they trained, how they treated each other, and immediately connecting with the gym. Years later, Alex Pereira would become a UFC champion and eventually win titles in two divisions. Via @mighty Did Glover Teixeira’s gym help create the monster Alex Pereira became? 👀 ABSOLUTELY 🥊 / NOT REALLY ❌ #ufc #mma #mixedmartialarts #alexpereira #mmanews
Glover Teixeira has opened up about the role his gym played in the development of Alex Pereira, crediting the environment at Teixeira MMA & Fitness with helping forge one of the UFC's most decorated champions.
Teixeira, now 46, says he always harbored an ambition to produce a fighter from his gym who would surpass even his own achievements. When Pereira arrived and began training alongside him, that ambition began to feel within reach. Teixeira recalls Pereira absorbing the gym's culture immediately — observing how the fighters trained and how they carried themselves — and connecting with it straight away. At the time, Teixeira was himself preparing for some of the most formidable light heavyweights in the UFC, and Pereira was sharpening the kickboxing that would eventually make him a feared striker at the highest level.
Teixeira's own career stands as one of the more remarkable in the sport. The Brazilian holds a professional record of 33 wins and 9 losses, and during his prime was one of the most well-rounded threats in the light heavyweight division, averaging 3.73 significant strikes per minute with 49 percent accuracy while also posting a takedown rate of 2.11 per 15 minutes.
Pereira, now 37 years old and carrying a record of 13 wins and 4 losses, has grown into one of the most dangerous fighters in the world. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, the Brazilian lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 62 percent — elite numbers that reflect the kickboxing foundation he built long before his UFC run. Ranked third in the light heavyweight division, Pereira has captured titles in two weight classes.
Why it matters
- Pereira's path to two-division gold ran directly through Teixeira's gym, giving the story genuine historical weight
- Teixeira's mentorship adds a human dimension to Pereira's rise that goes beyond pure athletic talent
- With Pereira currently ranked third at light heavyweight, his ties to that training environment remain relevant to his continued development
