Alex Pereira Honored with 2026 Forrest Griffin Community Award for Philanthropic Efforts

UFC has announced that former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will receive the 2026 Forrest Griffin Community Award. This prestigious award celebrates UFC athletes who demonstrate outstanding commitment to volunteerism and charitable work, making a tangible positive impact on their communities.

The Forrest Griffin Community Award is an integral part of the annual UFC Honors, specifically within the President’s Choice category. The recipient is personally chosen by UFC President & CEO Dana White, acknowledging significant contributions beyond the octagon.

As the 2026 award recipient, Pereira will be presented with a $25,000 donation directed to a charity of his choice, funded by the UFC Foundation. Furthermore, he will collaborate with artist Ant Kai to design and auction a unique pair of UFC-branded gloves through the UFC’s Gloves for Good Program. All proceeds from this auction will support his foundation, The Instituto Poatan.

Pereira will be formally recognized for this honor at the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, scheduled to take place during the 14th Annual UFC International Fight Week on Thursday, July 9, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

UFC President & CEO Dana White expressed his admiration: “Alex is one of the biggest stars in the world, and it’s fantastic to see him leverage his influence to support his community and empower youth in Brazil. By providing free after-school tutoring, computer literacy programs, and jiu-jitsu training to over 500 local youths, he is directly contributing to their ability to build better lives. It is an honor to present him with this award.”

Founded by Pereira in 2024, The Instituto Poatan (Poatan Institute / Poatan Cares Foundation) operates from a renovated building in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The institute is dedicated to fostering social and sports initiatives, utilizing sports as a catalyst for transformation. Its vision is to become a leading force in promoting and expanding sports practices that drive social, educational, and community development.

Operating with core values of transparency, excellence, integrity, and commitment, the institute offers free services including after-school tutoring, English courses, computer literacy, nutrition education, and jiu-jitsu training to underprivileged youth.

Since its establishment, The Instituto Poatan has enrolled more than 500 local young individuals in its programs, with plans for further expansion in 2026.

Beyond Brazil, Pereira actively engages with local communities globally. He visits children's hospitals, conducts jiu-jitsu workshops, and addresses underprivileged youth, often in collaboration with fellow athletes and through UFC's youth mentoring initiatives.

Pereira boasts a professional MMA career of 16 fights, holding a record of 13 wins and 3 losses (10-2 in the UFC) since his debut in 2015. Prior to his MMA career, he competed in 40 professional kickboxing bouts, achieving a record of 33 wins and 7 losses, and was a champion in both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions of GLORY.