Alex Pereira Tire Shop Work History

UFC 313

At the UFC 313 press conference, Magomed Ankalaev came at Alex Pereira pretty hard on the mic, particularly calling out Pereira’s past job as a tire shop employee in Brazil.

In response to a question fielded by a reporter, Ankalaev said, “Whether or not he (Pereira) stays in the sport or decides to go back to the tire shop, that’s going to be up to him.”

Pereira seemed visibly angry and glared at the reporter for the duration of Ankalaev’s answer. The question clearly struck a nerve, likely due to the hardships Pereira faced on his rise to the top of the UFC, including working a tough job in a tire shop.

Tire Shop History

Despite being one of the ost dominant champions the UFC has ever seen, Alex Pereira’s journey began in a far humbler setting—handling tires, not opponents.

Pereira’s early years were shaped by necessity rather than ambition. Growing up in a working-class family, he left school at a young age and took on whatever jobs were available to support himself. One of those jobs was a position at a local tire shop, where he spent his days mounting, balancing, and repairing tires. It was physically demanding work, but it instilled in him a resilience that would later define his career.

“It was hard, but it taught me discipline,” Pereira has reflected in interviews, hinting at how those early lessons carried over into his fighting life.

Life at the tire shop wasn’t without its challenges. Pereira has been open about his struggles with alcohol during that period, a time when the monotony of the job and personal hardships could have derailed him. Instead, it became a turning point. Seeking an escape, he stepped into a kickboxing gym—and what began as a distraction soon transformed into a passion. The tire shop may have been his day job, but the gym became his proving ground.

From Rubber to Gold

By the time Pereira made his UFC debut in 2021, he was already a decorated kickboxing champion, having claimed titles in two divisions with Glory Kickboxing. Fast forward to today and he’s solidified his place as the UFC light heavyweight champion.

Yet, he remains connected to his roots. “I don’t forget where I came from,” he’s said, a nod to the tire shop days that shaped him.

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