Alex Pereira

“That's something that exists in the sport. There will always be those trying to talk trash. There's a lot of haters, including compatriots.”

“To me, knowing how to defend yourself is the the most important thing.”

“Every time I fight, I want to come out with the victory. I don't know how it's going to be, but I'll be ready, I'll be prepared.”

“Whatever the UFC says I have to do, I'll do.”

“I'm ready to fight anybody. It doesn't matter who it is.”

“Everyone knows my history, everything I've done, who I went against - not just in MMA but kickboxing.”

“Never give up on your dreams.”

“Thanks to a lot of good people around me, they kept me motivated, and I'm here as a champion in two different weight classes.”

“My relationship with the UFC is very good.”

“I train hard.”

“As for my opponents, we look for fights that will push me and create a good impression with the fans that didn't follow me in kickboxing.”

“Someone crazy for a fight will say, 'I want this guy, I want to prove I'm better than him.'”

“Our town was not very wealthy, it is a humble place, and my mom and dad didn't have much money. They were always working, but we never had a lot.”

“I'm an active fighter, now an active champion.”

“My only social media is Instagram.”

“As a little kid, I was never one to follow the crowd. I didn't want to run around playing games all day, or to spend all my time reading big stacks of books. I wanted to choose my own way, to be in control.”

“The only ones who speak bad about me are Anthony Smith types. Washed-up vets who never amounted to anything, who are still fighting.”

“Sometimes my power even scares me.”

“Since I've been fighting at middleweight, people have been asking me if I'll fight at heavyweight, and I keep saying the same thing: I have to listen to my body.”

“The UFC likes to see me fighting.”