Alex โPoatanโ Pereira is a man of few words. The Brazilian kickboxing standout goes about his business with a stone-faced Moai-esque demeanor and stern jawline. In the short span of two years, he has accomplished a lot more than most fighters. Recently, โPoatanโ captured the attention of the MMA community with his charitable efforts to help the victims of floods in his home nation of Brazil.
Alex Pereira has more than done his part in a natural disaster that hit his home country of Brazil. The 205-pound titleholder and former middleweight champ is a beacon within his community, outside the scope of fighting. He proved this by donating aroundย $120,000 to pararescue and cleanup efforts in Brazil.
Many people from the south are in need there because of the rain and floods, Recently I made a donation out of my own pocket… No one helped me with anything. Apart from the other donations I made, I donated $100,000 of food to people in need here in Brazil…Now Iโm also going to donate another $20,000 to the south for this tragedy that happened. โฆ I do what I can…
Alex Pereira to MMA HOJE (HT: @ChampRDS on X); Reports and confirmation by Reuters
Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 U is fresh off a first-round knockout ofย Jamahal Hill in the maiden defense of his 205-pound strap. Outside the $300k Performance of the Night fight bonus, Pereira himself earned a substantial purse. According to BetGM, he took away an estimate of $2,850,000 (ยฃ2,282,992), which he means to put to good use.
According to Reuters, the official death toll is a little over 90, with 155,000 still displaced and missing. Across the state of Rio Grande do Sul, people have taken to even sleeping on the streets and even onย the outskirts of Eldorado do Sul. The light heavyweight champion bringing attention to it has garnered heaps of praise from the fans.
Fight fans react to Alex Pereira bringing attention to massive floods in Brazil
A wave of devastating floods hit the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul on Tuesday, with over 90 dead. UFC light-heavyweight king Alex Pereira reveres his Pataxรณ roots & his home country. Without the backing of official channels, Pereira has agreed to contribute $120,000 towards rescue efforts.
Hereโs how the MMA community reacted to it:
It is always good to see a compassionate side to fighters. Case in point, Chan Sung Jung, a.k.a The Korean Zombie had consequently donated $20,000 to Maui Food Bank in Hawaii for Wildfire Relief, which delighted local fighter Max Holloway, who additionally relocated and gifted him back his lost UFC Singapore fight gloves.
The current course subsequently sees fans laud Alex Pereira as a true champion. They have also urged UFC top brass to take notice and back the fighter in his efforts. A prime reaction (@wuzguchi714) noted โ โMoney is important, but heโs also bringing awareness. Maybe Dana or the owners of UFC can match him?โ Some fans also took the opportunity to jibe at Israel Adesanya and Anthony Smith as seen from the X reactions.