UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira has become one of the most popular and biggest fighters in the promotion in a very short time. Fans know him for his impressive fighting skills in the MMA octagon. However, the Brazilian fighter recently revealed how his past life as an alcoholic left him struggling as a child. He advised the younger generation to not fall into addiction like he did. Pereira stated how MMA has helped him to overcome his dark days and he now wants to help kids by talking about his struggles.
Pereira had difficulties in overcoming addiction
Currently, “Poatan” is one of the most respected champions in the UFC. He is loved by MMA fans worldwide for his charming personality and his ability to knockout his opponents. The Light heavyweight champion has expressed his desire to defend his title several times and then move up to the division. Today people see him as a successful champion, but his life was not always this bright. Pereira has opened up about his alcohol addiction on several occasions. It was very difficult for him to turn his life around until he got into mixed martial arts.
Now Alex Pereira believes that he can help the younger generation succeed. In the recently uploaded video on his YouTube channel, Pereira can be seen traveling to Vernon, Connecticut, to give a speech about his struggling times and how he overcame them. “Everyone knows my story with the alcohol. I’m a guy who stopped everything. I think I can help kids out by saying something to them,” said Pereira.
The light heavyweight champion wants to help children now
Poatan claimed that he will help kids by training them. Pereira talked to the children about his struggles as an alcoholic and explained how he struggled to quit, and once he found mixed martial arts, it helped him get over his addiction issues.
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Pereira claims that he was not aware of the medical aid facilities. The Brazilian fighter further revealed that it took him four years to fully overcome his struggles, eventually becoming a stunning MMA fighter. “Poatan” won the light heavyweight title last year at UFC 295 by securing a technical knockout win against Jiri Prochazka. This year in April, Pereira defended his title for the first time against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 by knocking him out in the first round. Then, in his rematch against Prochazka, Pereira again scored a TKO victory and successfully defended the championship.
