A dominant force in combat sports for over a decade, Alex Pereira’s journey began far from the bright lights of the UFC. He was already making a name for himself in kickboxing circles throughout the world when he stepped into the Octagon in 2021. But can you see Pereira fighting in the Pit? That’s exactly the invitation that’s on the table right now—a suitable challenge for a man who’s seen it all.

Alex Pereira became a two-division Glory Kickboxing champion after winning 33 of his 40 professional kickboxing matches. He was just as dominant in MMA, where he won two UFC belts in record time. Karate Combat is now focused on the Brazilian.

Alex Pereira on Karate Combat’s radar amid UFC future uncertainty

From battling alcoholism to stepping into the gym at 21 to fight off his inner demons, Alex Pereira’s rise through the ranks has been nothing short of remarkable. Within just seven UFC appearances, he captured gold in two divisions and went on to defend his light heavyweight crown three consecutive times. But earlier this year, the 38-year-old’s dominant run hit a bump as he dropped the title to Magomed Ankalaev.

Though he immediately called for a rematch, the UFC has remained silent on his future, leaving fans in the dark. Meanwhile, Alex Pereira has drawn the attention of the Karate Combat promotion. During a recent interview on Home of Fight, interviewers asked Karate Combat CEO Asim Zaidi: “Do you have any, like, maybe dream UFC fighters that you would love to see come in here?” Zaidi didn’t hesitate to name Pereira—perhaps no surprise given their connection.

Pereira’s sister, Aline Pereira, currently reigns as the promotion’s flyweight queen. Without blinking, Zaidi said: “You know what? It’ll happen one day—I know it will. When he’s done, Alex Pereira said that he needs to fight in the Pit before his career is over. And one day, when he maybe becomes a triple champ in the UFC, we’ll get him here in the Pit to say goodbye. I think you’ll see something really cool from him. So, that’s my dream match.”

Founded in 2018, Karate Combat made history as the world’s first full-time professional full-contact karate league. While its headquarters are in Dubai, the organization saw major growth in 2020 after beIN Sports acquired its rights, helping it expand its reach. Past Saturday, Aline Pereira stepped into the spotlight once again, competing for the flyweight title in Miami. She delivered a convincing performance against Fani Peloumpi and walked away with the belt.

However, the night took an unexpected turn when Alex Pereira’s ex-girlfriend, Mercele Christine, allegedly crashed the event and attempted to confront both Alex and Aline. Security quickly intervened, escorting her out of the venue and placing her on a blacklist from future events.

Ex-girlfriend turns heat on Alex Pereira and Karate Combat amid blacklist drama

Alex Pereira has kept a low profile regarding his personal life, particularly after his highly publicized split from longtime girlfriend Mercele Christine in late 2023. While ‘Poatan’ appeared to move on, Christine continued to take public shots at him through social media. Their feud escalated after Magomed Ankalaev dethroned the Brazilian, leading Christine to post a full video online.

Alex Pereira’s ex-girlfriend said goodbye with the phrase “no chama” on the video. Her comment soon set off a firestorm of responses, and a lot of people came out in favor of the former champion. Fans came to his side, and even Conor McGregor joined in, criticizing Christine online. But the drama wasn’t ended yet.

After Karate Combat reportedly blacklisted Christine from attending events, she fired back with a scathing social media post: “Karate Combat most unprofessional organisation ever. Got blacklisted as a visitor just because the CEO is licking the balls of famous UFC fighters who don’t want me at the event, looool.” She continued her tirade with another pointed message aimed at Pereira: “karma is coming anyway.”

The fight between Alex Pereira and Christine doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Even though there has been a lot of talk online, Pereira has not said anything about Christine’s latest claims. We’ll let you know if that changes.