Alex Perez is an American professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC’s flyweight division. Known for his wrestling background, fast finishes, and long career against elite 125-pound competition, Perez has remained a respected name in the flyweight division for years.
Perez owns a professional MMA record of 26-10 with one no contest and has defeated Charles Johnson, Matheus Nicolau, Jussier Formiga, Jordan Espinosa, Jose Torres, Eric Shelton, and Carls John de Tomas. A former UFC title challenger and Tachi Palace Fights champion, Perez has faced many of the toughest flyweights of his generation.
Alex Perez Fighter Information
| Stats | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alexander Salvador Perez |
| Nickname | N/A |
| Born | March 21, 1992 |
| Birthplace | Hanford, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5’6″ (168 cm) |
| Reach | 65.5 in (166 cm) |
| Division | Flyweight |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Team | Team Oyama |
| Record | 26-10, 1 NC |
| @alexperezmma |
What Is Alex Perez Known For?
Perez is best known for five things:
- Challenging for the UFC Flyweight Championship.
- His wrestling background.
- His fast finishes in the UFC.
- His win over Jussier Formiga.
- His long run against elite flyweight competition.
Although Perez has several submission wins, his wrestling sets up much of his offense. He pressures opponents, scrambles well, and can finish fights quickly when momentum swings his way.
Why Does Alex Perez Stand Out?
Perez stands out because of his experience.
Many flyweights have strong records, but few have fought as many top names. Perez has shared the cage with Deiveson Figueiredo, Alexandre Pantoja, Tatsuro Taira, Muhammad Mokaev, Asu Almabayev, Joseph Benavidez, and several other high-level opponents.
As a result, his record tells only part of the story. His schedule has been one of the toughest among active flyweights.
Alex Perez’s Early Life
Perez was born in Hanford, California, and later fought out of Lemoore.
He is of Mexican descent and grew up in a large family with eight siblings. Perez started wrestling in sixth grade alongside his brothers, Silverio Esparza and Julian Perez.
Later, he wrestled at West Hills College Lemoore, where he became a regional champion and All-American. That wrestling background became the foundation for his MMA career.
How Did Alex Perez Get Into MMA?
Perez entered MMA through wrestling.
After high school, he began helping friends prepare for their MMA fights because of his wrestling experience. Eventually, that exposure pushed him toward competing himself.
He made his professional MMA debut in 2011 at Tachi Palace Fights and won by first-round TKO. From there, Perez built his career almost entirely in the United States before earning a UFC opportunity.
Alex Perez’s Road to the UFC
Before joining the UFC, Perez built a strong regional résumé.
He competed often under the Tachi Palace Fights banner and captured the TPF Flyweight Championship. Along the way, he developed a style built on wrestling, pressure, submissions, and quick transitions.
In 2017, Perez appeared on Dana White’s Contender Series against Kevin Gray. He submitted Gray with an anaconda choke in the first round and earned a UFC contract.
Alex Perez’s UFC Career
Perez made his UFC debut in December 2017 against Carls John de Tomas.
He won by second-round submission and quickly followed with victories over Eric Shelton and Jose Torres. Although Joseph Benavidez handed him his first UFC loss, Perez later rebuilt momentum.
He defeated Mark De La Rosa, Jordan Espinosa, and Jussier Formiga. His leg-kick TKO over Formiga was especially important because it pushed him toward title contention.
Eventually, Perez stepped in to challenge Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC 255. He lost by first-round guillotine choke, but the fight marked the biggest opportunity of his career.
Recent UFC Run
Perez’s later UFC run has included injuries, cancellations, and difficult opponents.
He lost to Alexandre Pantoja, Muhammad Mokaev, Tatsuro Taira, and Asu Almabayev. However, he also scored major knockout wins over Matheus Nicolau and Charles Johnson.
His 2026 bout against Sumudaerji ended in a no contest after an accidental low blow left Perez unable to continue.
Even with setbacks, Perez remains a dangerous veteran because he can still finish fights quickly against ranked opponents.
What Is Alex Perez’s Fighting Style?
Perez is a wrestling-based flyweight with strong finishing instincts.
He can win with takedowns, submissions, ground control, leg kicks, and fast boxing exchanges. In addition, he has shown several different finishing tools during his UFC career, including an arm-triangle choke, leg-kick TKO, and clean punches.
However, Perez has also struggled against elite submission threats. Because of that, grappling defense has played a major role in several of his biggest fights.
What Has Alex Perez Accomplished?
Perez has built a long and respected MMA résumé.
His accomplishments include:
- UFC Flyweight Championship challenger.
- Former Tachi Palace Fights Flyweight Champion.
- Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner.
- Three UFC Performance of the Night bonuses.
- UFC wins over Jussier Formiga, Matheus Nicolau, Charles Johnson, and Jordan Espinosa.
- One of the fastest average fight times in UFC flyweight history.
- More than 25 professional MMA victories.
Alex Perez’s Life Outside the Cage
Outside MMA, Perez represents Lemoore, California.
He is also an entrepreneur and lists himself as the owner of Acai Republic on social media. In addition, he is married and has a son.
Those details show a different side of Perez beyond fighting. While fans know him for pressure and fast finishes, he has also built a life around family, business, and his California roots.
Why Alex Perez Stands Out
Alex Perez stands out because he has stayed relevant through several eras of the UFC flyweight division.
He came up through wrestling, earned his UFC spot through Contender Series, challenged for UFC gold, and continued facing top opponents even after injuries and setbacks. Moreover, his wins over Nicolau and Johnson showed that he still has power and timing late in his career.
With his experience, wrestling base, and finishing ability, Perez remains one of the most battle-tested flyweights in the UFC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Alex Perez?
Alex Perez is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC flyweight division. He is a former UFC title challenger and former Tachi Palace Fights Flyweight Champion.
Has Alex Perez fought for a UFC title?
Yes. Perez challenged Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC 255.
What is Alex Perez’s fighting style?
Perez is a wrestling-based flyweight who uses pressure, takedowns, submissions, leg kicks, and fast striking exchanges.
