UFC star, Alex Pereira has claimed partaking in sports activities “saved” his life, amid his well-documented battle with alcohol dependancy earlier in his life.
Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion contained in the Octagon and the present undisputed gentle heavyweight titleholder, has been sidelined since he featured atop UFC 303 on the finish of June, headlining the Worldwide Combat Week card on short-notice.
And racking up his second straight profitable protection of the 205lbs title, Sao Paulo knockout king, Alex Pereira laid waste to former champion, Jiri Prochazka with a surprising second spherical high-kick knockout win.
Additionally headlining UFC 300 earlier this annum, Brazilian favourite, Alex Pereira took down Jamahal Hill with a blistering opening spherical knockout win – handing the previous gold holder a defeat in his first Octagon look in over the course of a 12 months.
Touchdown a pair of championships throughout his run with GLORY Kickboxing at each the middleweight and light-weight heavyweight limits – Pereira was inducted into the promotion’s Corridor of Fame final November, rounding off a surprising profession within the sport.
And amid links to an end-of-year return, Pereira has opened up on his well-publicized battle with alcoholism, claiming a path to fight sports activities seemingly saved his life.
Alex Pereira opens up on battle with dependancy
“I’m a man who stopped every little thing, and I feel I may also help the youngsters out by sharing my story with them,” Alex Pereira stated on his official YouTube channel. “It’s me, Glover. We’re going to do a coaching session with the youngsters, and I feel it’s going to be nice.”
“This challenge was organized by our pal Michael with the assistance of the mayor of Vernon. I discussed it to Poatan, and he was instantly on board, regardless of his busy journey schedule. However that’s how we’re—we work exhausting and take the time to do this stuff for the youngsters, to inspire them. We wish them to come back to the gymnasium, to coach, and to get out of a life that has no future.”
“We’ve bought an important crew with us: Glover, Turman, Reggie, Melvin, and extra folks within the automotive, together with my supervisor, Derek. We’re all heading out for this social motion, which is so necessary. When you’ve been following my channel, you already know we all the time attempt to do this type of work.”
“I feel it’s essential to incorporate this within the video – serving to youngsters who’re scuffling with drug issues. I do know firsthand how exhausting it’s to take care of these conditions, each for the youngsters and their households. That’s why we’re going to attempt to make a distinction by speaking to them, displaying them a greater path. I can talk about how sport saved me from alcohol dependancy.”
“In the present day, I’m a UFC champion, however I all the time say that even when I hadn’t change into a champion, I might nonetheless think about myself a champion in life. Overcoming dependancy is without doubt one of the hardest issues to do, so we’re going on the market to supply some help, and I’m positive we’ll make a distinction.”
Who would you prefer to see Alex Pereira struggle subsequent?
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