Alex Pereira doesn’t need words to make an impact. His fists do the talking. The UFC light heavyweight champion has captivated fans with his knockout power and stone-faced demeanor. But there’s always been one mystery, his language skills.
Since breaking into the UFC, Pereira has mostly spoken Portuguese, relying on translators in interviews. But is that the only language he knows? Recently, clips have surfaced showing Pereira speaking English. Not fluently, but enough to surprise those who assumed he didn’t understand a word. So, how many languages does ‘Poatan’ really speak? And just how far has he come in mastering English?
Which languages does Alex Pereira know?
As a Brazilian, Alex Pereira’s first language is Portuguese. That much is certain. But learning English? That’s a different battle altogether.
In 2023, Pereira revealed his unconventional approach to picking up the language. Instead of hiring a tutor, he decided to learn from none other than Sean Strickland, one of the UFC’s most outspoken and controversial figures.
During an appearance on ‘The MMA Hour’ with Ariel Helwani, the light heavyweight champion revealed, “Sean Strickland’s coming to Connecticut next week for one week to train with me for his next fight. I’m going to learn English with Sean Strickland.”
Strickland isn’t exactly known for his oratory skills, but ‘Poatan’ saw past the brash persona. He stated, “He’s a bit crazy, but he’s a nice guy. He talks against people, but he always treats me with respect.”
It was a bold strategy, learning English from one of the most unfiltered fighters in the UFC. But did it pay off?
When UFC’s Alex Pereira shockingly speaks in English
For the longest time, Alex Pereira insisted English was a mountain too steep to climb. In a 2024 YouTube video, he bluntly stated, “I know I don’t. I don’t speak English. For me, it’s very difficult.”
Then came an unexpected moment in 2025 that had fans and fighters alike raising their eyebrows. While in Las Vegas ahead of UFC 313, Pereira ran into former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. The two shared a brief exchange, with Usman asking if Pereira had been practicing English. The question was translated into Portuguese by Pereira’s coach.
But instead of answering in his native tongue, the champ surprised everyone by responding in English, stating, “If you speak slow, I understand, if you speak fast, for me, it’s difficult.”
‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ was taken aback as he laughed and jokingly warned, “Don’t ever let them know you speak English like this”
So, is Alex Pereira fluent in English? Not yet. But he’s proving that he’s more than just a knockout artist, he’s a student of the game, both inside and outside the Octagon. He might not be delivering long speeches anytime soon, but if you slow things down, he’ll understand. And in the fight game, sometimes that’s all you need.
With each passing interview and casual exchange, Alex Pereira is breaking down language barriers one word at a time. The question now is, how long before he shocks the world with a full conversation in English? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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