Alex Pereira has become a global phenomenon. ‘Poatan’ has come a long way from the tire shop in Brazil where he worked. After an accomplished kickboxing career with Glory Kickboxing, the Brazilian built a Hall of Fame resume in the UFC. Now, the 36-year-old appears to have connected with the masses more than Anderson Silva and Jose Aldo, the legendary Brazilian MMA pioneers.
Even though he doesn’t speak English, fight fans in the USA and other English-speaking countries have already taken him to heart. Gilbert Burns, the former welterweight title challenger, recently revealed the reason for Poatan’s worldwide fame.
Pereira’s Charisma and Fan Connection
Burns recently spoke with Morning Kombat’s Bryan Campbell and Luke Thomas. ‘Durinho’ had picked Pereira to defeat Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303. Moreover, the 37-year-old warned Poatan against a potential matchup against Jon Jones at heavyweight. Furthermore, he also revealed why Pereira has achieved global fame despite his English illiteracy.
“That power made that guy so special. The character, you know, even though he doesn’t speak English, a lot of people can’t understand him. It’s a little weird, but he’s a guy we can connect with more than we could back in the days with Anderson Silva. Anderson was the greatest, but his English wasn’t the best. Aldo too, but they couldn’t connect. I think now, with social media and a lot more things, we can connect more with the guy,” said Burns.
The Glory Kickboxing Hall of Famer indeed has a big social media presence. Moreover, he has also collaborated with influencers. Skits featuring Pereira have gone viral on social media. A social media post of Nina Marie Daniele featuring Poatan has gone viral on Instagram with more than 20 million views. None of Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, or other Brazilian stars have achieved it.
With victories over Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya, Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka (x2), and Jamahal Hill, Pereira has fought and won more UFC title fights than regular ones. Moreover, fans swarm him wherever he goes. If he does the unthinkable of becoming the heavyweight champion, Pereira might become a bigger name than Conor McGregor.
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