Donald Trump has remained a staple at major UFC events. He has supported and remained a fan of the sport for quite some time. The mixed martial arts world collided with politics over the weekend. UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira was photographed with former U.S. President Donald Trump at UFC 302. The picture quickly went viral online.
UFC 302 is underway at the Prudential Center. Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier headlines the event with the lightweight title on the line. Alex Pereira was in attendance at the much-anticipated event. He took the opportunity to take a picture with former President Donald Trump. The 6’4″ hulking Brazilian fighter towered over the former president.
It’s not the first time a UFC fighter has posed with a president. Back in 2018, Colby Covington even visited the White House and met with Trump after winning the interim welterweight title. He even brought the belt and set it on Trump’s table at the White House.
Donald Trump was recently found guilty of all charges in his hush-money case. However, he was free at the New Jersey UFC event. Alex Periera is coming off a big knockout win over Jamahal Hill at the main event of UFC 300. Fight fans are anticipating his next fight in the octagon.
Alex Pereira’s rise in the world of combat sports
Alex Pereira’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and adaptability. From the favelas of Sao Paulo to the bright lights of the UFC octagon, he has conquered it all. The Brazilian fighter has taken the mixed martial arts world by storm. He transitioned seamlessly from a decorated kickboxing career to becoming a two-division UFC champion.
Alex Pereira’s rise in MMA (via Sports Illustrated)Pereira’s narrative resonates with countless budding sportsmen. He was born poor and had to quit school early so he could labor as a bricklayer’s helper. However, at this juncture, he encountered the world of kickboxing. This sport became his refuge from life’s hardships. Pereira excelled in it, clinching numerous national titles for Brazil before claiming a stake in Glory Kickboxing.
Soon, the thirst for more drove him into mixed martial arts. However, adapting to MMA proved to be quite challenging. Despite a rocky start, with a loss in his MMA debut, Pereira’s determination never wavered. He went on a tear, knocking out four consecutive opponents.
Alex Pereira will be inducted into the GLORY Kickboxing Hall of Fame 👏
He had a record of 33-7 with 21 KOs and was a two-division champion at middleweight and light heavyweight.
(📸 @GLORY_WS) pic.twitter.com/P59ec0S5Sj
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 4, 2023
Pereira’s striking prowess immediately set him apart in the UFC cage. With each victory, the hype surrounding Pereira grew, culminating in a highly anticipated clash against his former kickboxing rival, Israel Adesanya. A grudge match of epic proportions was about to begin, and Pereira was ready to fight. He knocked out his opponent in the fifth round and won the UFC middleweight championship, making him a certified rising star.
Even though later on Adesanya would defeat him in their second fight, this did not diminish anything from Alex’s incredible journey. The ambitious Brazilian then decided to go up to the light heavyweight division. He defeated former title holder Jan Blachowicz before ultimately beating Jiri Prochazka for the 205 lbs strap. He became a two-weight world champion in GLORY as well as achieving double champ status within UFC history.
