Is Alex Pereira Muslim? What religion does the Brazilian UFC champion follow?
The religion of UFC double champion Alex Pereira is a mystery, with some sources suggesting that he is a Muslim.
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Which religion does Alex Pereira follow? (Image via Imago/X)
Alex Pereira has achieved the status of a double champion in the UFC. His fast rise to the top remains the most impressive aspect of his career. Although people know a lot about Pereira’s fighting career, very little is known about what religion Alex Pereira follows.
To start with, whether Alex Pereira is Muslim or not remains a debated issue on the internet. Pereira had a difficult past with alcoholism. He started drinking at the very young age of 12, and his struggles with it continued even after he became a national kickboxing champion.
However, ‘Poatan‘ made a conscious effort to overcome his addiction, and it is believed that he converted to Islam, which prohibits the consumption of alcohol. Pereira has been sober since 2012 and is proud of his achievement. Find out more details about the religion of Alex Pereira
Alex Pereira – Muslim or not? Some evidences exist
Sheikh Khaled Taqi el-Din, president of the Supreme Council of Imams and Islamic Affairs, talked about Alex Pereira’s religion. Pereira’s friend gave some books about Islam and Hamza, which led him to become interested in the religion. He started visiting the Federation of Muslim Associations in Brazil to meet with scholars who taught him about the principles of Islam.
The Federation of Muslim Associations in Brazil has launched a project called “Muslims for Peace” to showcase the positive contributions of Muslims in Brazilian society and counter anti-Muslim campaigns in the media. Despite these campaigns, more people have become interested in and converted to Islam. Regardless of Alex Pereira’s religion, all that matters is his control over alcohol addiction.
Alex Pereira’s Muslim story begins with his past
Alex Pereira is a man of very few words. He has rarely delved into his family dynamics during interviews. He has a sister, and he hails from an indigenous tribe in Brazil. According to an article written by Calfkicker.com, Alex Pereira reportedly converted to Islam in 2015.
Although Pereira has never confirmed this, a video of him reciting the Shahada with the FAMBRAS director suggests that he may have indeed converted to Islam. It’s possible that the Islamic faith may have helped him overcome his addiction to alcohol since it’s not allowed in Islam.
Has Alex Pereira spoken about his religion in the UFC like Jon Jones and Khabib Nurmagomedov?
UFC CEO Dana White does not believe in religion. However, the same does not go for his fighters. Jon Jones always talks about his belief in Christianity and praises Jesus Christ after almost every one of his UFC victories. Meanwhile, Khabib Nurmagomedov praises Allah after his bouts.
On the other hand, Alex Pereira has never mentioned anything about his religion in the UFC. His octagon interviews and post-fight press conferences revolve around his career. Whether it is issuing a callout or teasing a heavyweight move, ‘Poatan’ only focuses on what’s next, unlike praise God like Jones or others.
What is the black magic claim made against Alex Pereira?
Ahead of UFC 303, Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira, black magic accusations were leveled against the Brazilian star. The Czech fighter claimed that Shamanism helped Poatan defeat him back in UFC 295. Interestingly, Pereira never denied the claims.
At UFC 303 in the T-Mobile Arena, Poatan outclassed Prochazka in less than seven minutes to retain his light heavyweight title. After the title bout, Pereira sent prayers to Prochazka. This was also the only time when the Brazilian star spoke about religion.
Shamanism, which Prochazka claims that Poatan uses, is linked to his Pataxo tribe culture. So far, Pereira has never spoken in length about Shamanism, his religion, and how it helps him in fighting. It just remains a talking point whenever somebody brings it up while mentioning the Brazilian UFC superstar.
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Gerard Crispin
(3318 Articles Published)