Alex Pereira to be Honored for Community Contributions

Former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira will be honored for his contributions outside the Octagon at the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Pereira has been selected to receive the Forrest Griffin Community Award, which recognizes athletes for their "exceptional volunteer and charity work and the significant impact of their efforts on the community."

"Alex is one of the biggest stars in the world, and it's great to see him use his popularity to help the community by supporting young people in Brazil," stated UFC CEO Dana White in an official announcement. "By offering free after-school activities, computer literacy programs, and jiu-jitsu training to over 500 local youths, he is directly helping them build better lives for themselves. It's an honor to present him with this award."

As part of the honor, Pereira will receive a $25,000 donation from the UFC Foundation, which he can allocate to a charity of his choice.

The majority of Pereira's charitable work is conducted through the "Instituto Poatan" (Poatan Cares Foundation), which he established in 2024. The institute's mission is to "promote social and sports initiatives, using sport as a tool for transformation." The non-profit organization's vision is to become a benchmark for promoting, expanding, and disseminating sports practices that drive social, educational, and community development. Other fighters honored with the Forrest Griffin Community Award include Dustin Poirier (2021), Max Holloway (2022), Giga Chikadze (2022), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (2023), Beneil Dariush (2024), and Charles Oliveira (2025).

In addition to Pereira, the 2026 Hall of Fame class includes Dominick Cruz, Demetrious Johnson, and the UFC 248 bout between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jędrzejczyk (in the "Fight of the Year" category).

The 2026 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on July 9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, as part of the organization's 14th annual International Fight Week.