Alex Pereira’s meteoric rise in the UFC has been nothing short of legendary. In just a few years, the former kickboxing champion transitioned into mixed martial arts and carved out his place among the sport’s elite. From dethroning Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title to claiming the light heavyweight belt, Pereira’s dominance has been undeniable.
With an unparalleled knockout power, the Poatan has earned comparisons with some of the all-time greats of the game. While those subjects are always up for debate, Pereira was recently bestowed an honor that was only given to Jon Jones and Conor McGregor. The person who put his name next to two of the all-time greats was none other than the legendary Bruce Buffer.
Buffer has held an important place in the hearts of UFC fans for a long time. His electrifying energy and introductions have helped build up anticipation and excitement for UFC events. While he keeps the same energy for every athlete in the company, there are a few who get special shoutouts.
Alex Pereira gets ‘The one, the only’ tag from Bruce Buffer
At UFC 313, the Poatan was getting ready to defend his title against Magomed Ankalaev. The 37-year-old was being introduced by Buffer. That’s when fans noticed that he called Pereira ‘The one, the only,’ a rare shoutout that he has only previously given to Jones and McGregor.
The honor was first bestowed on the Irish man. McGregor has been the most successful and arguably the most famous fighter in the game. His meteoric rise to fame also helped bring more attention to the UFC and grew the brand. So, when he returned to the Octagon after a hiatus in 2020, Buffer introduced him as ‘The one, the only.’
Arguably the greatest UFC fighter of all time, Jones was the second to experience it right before his heavyweight bout against Ciryl Gane. Unfortunately, the iconic introduction and an incredible honor didn’t do much for Pereira as he lost his title to Ankalaev.
Prateek is a seasoned content writer with over 2500 published articles and two+ years of experience. His passion for UFC was ignited during Conor McGregor’s meteoric rise, and closely following McGregor’s journey inspired him to bring a sharp, fan-driven perspective to his UFC coverage, blending detailed analysis with compelling storytelling.
