From sharing the journey in 2018 to standing side by side on the biggest stages in MMA… Charles Oliveira and Alex Pereira are proof that life can change in ways you never imagined. Two Brazilians. Two incredible stories. Years of sacrifice, setbacks, belief, and relentless work and now they’re fighting back-to-back at UFC 335. From chasing the dream to becoming the names the whole world knows. Sometimes an old photo isn’t just a memory… it’s a reminder of how far you’ve come. 🇧🇷❤️🔥 2018 → UFC 335. What a journey. 🥹🤝
Charles Oliveira and Alex Pereira are set to compete back-to-back at UFC 335, a pairing that has the two Brazilians reflecting on how far they have come since sharing the journey in 2018. The pair are both on the card, and the story is framed around an old photo of the two together that now stands as a marker of their rise to the biggest stages in the sport. Neither is facing the other.
Oliveira, nicknamed "Do Bronxs," is a 36-year-old lightweight with a 37-11-0 record. He is ranked third in the division and holds the number 11 spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. Fighting out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima, the orthodox Brazilian is best known for his submission game, averaging 2.6 attempts per 15 minutes alongside 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also lands 3.35 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy.
Pereira, known as "Poatan," is a 39-year-old light heavyweight at 13-4-0, also ranked third in his division. He trains out of Teixeira MMA & Fitness and stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, a sizable frame for a fighter whose game is built on striking. He lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, while rarely looking for takedowns or submissions.
Why it matters
- Two of Brazil's best-known fighters share the same card, each ranked third in their respective divisions.
- The contrast in style is stark: Oliveira's grappling-heavy attack against Pereira's high-volume, accurate striking.
- For both men, the card is another step in a long climb that the old 2018 photo captures.
The message around the card is one of perseverance. Years of sacrifice, setbacks and relentless work have taken both from the early days of chasing a dream to becoming names recognized worldwide. UFC 335 now puts them on the same bill.
