Pereira receives Forrest Griffin Award and dedicates it to those who supported him
Alex Pereira has been announced as the winner of the 2026 Forrest Griffin Community Award, one of the most significant honors in the UFC outside the octagon. The Brazilian could not contain his emotion and posted a touching message on social media, saying that this recognition is one of the most memorable moments of his entire career.
An achievement outside the ring
The award exists to highlight UFC athletes who build something beyond victories. It is not about knockouts or belts. It is about real impact on other people’s lives. And that is exactly where Pereira has been investing ever since he founded the Poatan Institute in 2024.
The organization offers free after-school tutoring, digital literacy, and jiu-jitsu training to more than 500 children and teenagers in Brazil. The idea is straightforward: give concrete tools to young people who need opportunity, not speeches. The institute serves as a real alternative to the streets, combining education and sport in a single space.
As part of the award, the UFC Foundation will donate US$ 25,000 to a charity chosen by Pereira himself. A sum that, in the right hands, can expand the reach of the work already underway.
What Pereira said and what it means
In his statement, the former two-division champion was emphatic: the achievement is not his alone. He mentioned coaches, training partners, volunteers, and supporters as an essential part of this story. Rarely does an athlete of this level share a trophy with so many people. That says something about the man’s character.
Pereira also acknowledged the weight of the list he now belongs to. Before him, the award went to Dustin Poirier, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush, all with a solid history of community work. Joining this group with the same life project, and not merely for the sake of image, has a different value.
UFC CEO Dana White also publicly praised the Brazilian’s commitment to social causes, reinforcing that the recognition goes beyond any marketing strategy.
A recent defeat, but eyes on the future
The timing of the award comes at a moment of transition for Pereira inside the octagon. In June, he tried to become the first three-division champion in UFC history, but was defeated by Ciryl Gane in the fight for the interim heavyweight title at the UFC White House event. A turn of events that interrupted an impressive run, but ended nothing.
The Brazilian has already signaled that he will keep competing in the heavyweight division, eyeing a new shot at the belt. The defeat was hard. But Pereira has already proven, inside and outside the cage, that he knows how to bounce back.
