Alex Pereira Named 2026 Forrest Griffin Community Award Recipient at UFC Hall of Fame as ‘Poatan’ Eyes November Heavyweight Return

Alex Pereira’s week in Las Vegas has delivered two very different storylines simultaneously. At the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony today, ‘Poatan’ was named the recipient of the 2026 Forrest Griffin Community Award, a recognition of everything he represents beyond the octagon.

The man who screamed “CHAMA” into every arena he ever fought in is now officially honoured by the sport that made him a global icon.

The Career That Built the Legend: Alex Pereira

The trajectory Alex Pereira has taken through the UFC is genuinely historic. He came in as a kickboxing world champion, claimed the middleweight title, vacated it, moved to light heavyweight and dominated the entire division, collecting multiple title defences before becoming the most feared pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. Two weight classes, multiple world titles, and a finishing rate that made every fight feel like an event.

The Heavyweight Debut That Went Wrong

The heavyweight debut at UFC Freedom 250 against Ciryl Gane did not go to plan. Gane stopped Pereira in round two in the co-main event of the White House card, ending his bid to become the first-ever three-division UFC champion. Pereira has maintained that illegal strikes from Gane went unpunished by referee Herb Dean, believing those fouls directly prevented him from finishing the fight before the stoppage came.

November Return Is the Target for Alex Pereira

Despite the loss, Alex Pereira is deadset on returning at heavyweight in November, per reporter Shakiel Mahjouri. He has already committed to staying at 265 pounds permanently, planting his flag in the division and chasing the title he was denied on debut night.

Josh Hokit Has Made This Personal

Josh Hokit has spent weeks targeting Alex Pereira publicly, taking shots at the Brazilian and even bringing his mother into the conversation. Two men who genuinely dislike each other, one holding a massive knockout win over Derrick Lewis, the other a former two-division champion returning with something to prove.

That is a fight that sells itself.

About The Author

Chynelle Dirksz

A sports enthusiast turned writer, I bring a multi-sport perspective to my coverage. From playing basketball, handball, and throwball to competing as an athlete, sport has always been at the core of who I am, and writing became the natural way to channel that passion.

At To The Lane And Back, I cover Tottenham Hotspur, focusing on transfers, academy developments, and everything in between. I also write about UFC and MMA for UFCDailyNews.com, a site I designed, covering breaking news, fight analysis, and the latest developments in combat sports.

When I’m not writing, I’m probably being outsmarted by my two Labradors.

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