Alex Pereira might be going through a tough time right now. He lost his light-heavyweight belt to Magomed Ankalaev, and then, in an event that many are skeptical about, he revealed his account was hacked for just one X post, saying he was unhappy with the UFC and that ‘CHAMA” was considering retirement. Amidst all this, a cloud of uncertainty has covered Pereira’s career. But even in his days of drought, the hard work he has done for the UFC is still paying off. Through his legendary 205-title run, he has garnered the respect of a majority of the MMA community, and one UFC legend considers him one of the few remaining ‘real fighters’ today.

While sitting down with an MMA journalist, Guilherme Cruz, Chuck Liddell talked about what fighting and passion for the sport meant back in his brawling days and how they fought consistently not because the payday was big or small, it was their love for the sport that brought them back to the action again and again. Throughout his callback and comparison of the past and the new, ‘The Iceman’ had a few words of compliments only for Alex Pereira.

‘The Iceman’ said, “When I started fighting, the home run was 150 grand a year. So you had to fight three fights to get that. And so there wasn’t any big thing. So, you’ve got guys like fighting, and there’s a job where I can fight, right? So you have a lot of more pure fighters fighting. Today, like guys that are fighting, have a lotta athletes that can fight. They’re good athletes, and they can fight. They know how to fight. So they go out there. But sometimes it’s a different mindset.” Definitely, mindset is important.

He further added, “I mean, there are guys that do well, and that are really kind of not what I consider like real fighters. They’re great tactically, but they can be intimidated, they can be pushed to a point where it’s not a fight. There’s quite a few out there but I like Alex Pereira’s attitude about fighting. He’s a beast, man. So if I had to pick one, I guess him.” He really appreciates Pereira.

Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell is a ‘Mount-Rushmore kind of figure in the world of mixed martial arts. He is renowned for his contributions to the UFC and the sport’s mainstream popularity. His accolades reflect a career marked with formidable striking power, memorable rivalries, and a lasting impact on MMA’s evolution. And getting his nod of approval at this point in his career will mean a lot for Alex Pereira. 

But what was the most significant feat that brought Alex Pereira to this level of popularity? After he beat Israel Adesanya to earn the middleweight title, he had already become a huge star for the UFC, but after he lost to ‘The Last Stylebender’ in their rematch, and lost the 185-pound gold, he moved to the light-heavyweight division and that is where his title run became one for the future to look back at for generations to come.

Alex Pereira’s legendary trilogy of UFC title defences

The world stood still when Alex Pereira defended his light-heavyweight title for the third time. The time between his title defenses shook the MMA community, although others have done it before. In a matter of just 175 days, Pereira achieved a remarkable feat by defending his UFC Light Heavyweight title three times, a record-breaking accomplishment that surpassed Ronda Rousey‘s previous mark of 189 days for three title defenses. This period solidified Pereira’s status as one of the most formidable champions in UFC history.

Pereira’s first title defense came at UFC 300 against a former champion in Jamahal Hill. Demonstrating his striking prowess, he secured a first-round finish with a signature left hook, earning the Performance of the Night bonus. This victory showcased his ability to dominate top-tier opponents with precision and power.

In his second title defense, at UFC 303, stepping in on just two weeks’ notice, Pereira faced Jiri Prochazka in a highly anticipated rematch. And after knocking Prochazka down at the end of the first round, Pereira delivered a massive head kick early in the second, followed by the ground-and-pound, leading to a TKO victory. This performance not only earned him another Performance of the Night bonus but also a $303,000 bonus from UFC President Dana White.  

Then at UFC 307, Pereira faced the formidable Khalil Rountree Jr. The bout was intense and painful. And both fighters exchanged heavy significant strikes. However, Pereira’s resilience and striking acumen led to a fourth-round TKO victory. This fight earned him his first Fight of the Night award and set the record for the shortest time for three title defenses in UFC history.

This legendary title run came to an end when he clashed against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 after a unanimous decision loss to the Dagestani. But since then, both ‘Poatan’ and Ankalaev have been preparing and waiting for a rematch. Or just maybe Pereira will go for the third title and attempt a heavyweight run. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.