Alex Pereira has dominated headlines in early 2026, and this time, it hasn’t been because of what he’s done inside the Octagon.
Toward the end of 2025, the UFC light heavyweight champion made it clear he wanted to compete at the highly anticipated UFC White House event scheduled for June. However, after discussions with the promotion, Pereira revealed just before the new year that his involvement in the historic card was unlikely.
Since then, Alex Pereira has remained firmly in the spotlight, with his personal life taking center stage as he enters another year as one of MMA’s biggest global stars.
As the new year began, the 38-year-old finally went public with his relationship, sharing photos and videos alongside fellow UFC fighter Tracy Cortez. The posts quickly went viral, offering fans a rare look into the usually private life of “Poatan.”
Not long after, Pereira shared another moment that resonated deeply with fans. On Monday, he posted a heartfelt video of himself surprising his father with a brand-new golf cart.
“Very happy to be able to present my dad with this gift,” Pereira wrote.“He deserves it a lot because he gave up his own things to raise seven children. Thank you, Dad.”
The gesture struck a chord across the MMA community. While Alex Pereira typically keeps his family life out of the public eye, he has occasionally shared glimpses of how his success has changed their lives. Last year, he revealed that he purchased a new mansion for his parents, a reward for years of sacrifice and support during his rise to the top.
Pereira’s story remains one of the most compelling in combat sports. He came from humble beginnings, working in a tire shop in the favelas before turning to martial arts in 2009 as a way to overcome alcoholism. In just a few short years, he built a résumé worthy of the UFC Hall of Fame and headlined some of the promotion’s most lucrative pay-per-view events.
At the moment, it’s unclear when Alex Pereira will make his return to action. He continues to recover from a broken foot, though it remains uncertain whether the injury alone is delaying his comeback. Pereira has also expressed interest in a blockbuster heavyweight clash, with names like Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall frequently mentioned, though talks have cooled in recent months.
A light heavyweight title defense against rising contender Carlos Ulberg also looms as a realistic next step.
For now, Alex Pereira continues to make headlines in his own way, balancing superstardom, family, and recovery, while fans wait to see when “Poatan” will once again step back into the Octagon.
