5 Defining Moments: Alex Perez

Alex Perez remains one the most overlooked cogs in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s flyweight wheel.

The Team Oyama product will attempt to keep his name on a short list of potential title contenders at 125 pounds when he confronts Alexandre Pantoja in a featured UFC 277 attraction on Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Perez has compiled a 6-2 record since he linked arms with the UFC in December 2017. Twelve of his 24 professional victories have been netted by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

The 30-year-old Perez has experienced a number of defining moments throughout his career. Here are five that stand out:

Climbing the Ladder

Perez laid claim to the vacant Tachi Palace Fights flyweight championship when he outpointed Anthony Figueroa to a five-round unanimous decision in their TPF 22 co-main event on Feb. 5, 2015 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California. It was a seesaw affair that showcased the skills of both men. Leg kicks, multi-punch bursts and a steady jab fed the flames for Perez. Figueroa answered on occasion but too often resorted to single-strike attacks. Perez executed multiple takedowns, stayed active on top and bled valuable time off the clock with positional control, frustrating the American Kickboxing Academy product with his stick-to-itiveness. The performance brought the Californian some regional hardware and marked him as a prospect to watch moving forward. Further seasoning—including appearances in King of the Cage, the Resurrection Fighting Alliance and Cage Fury Fighting Championships—led Perez to an opportunity on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017 and a call to the UFC shortly thereafter.

Flawless First Impression

The fast-rising Perez enjoyed a stellar Octagon debut, as he submitted Carls John de Tomas with a brabo choke in the second round of their UFC Fight Night 123 bantamweight prelim on Dec. 9, 2017 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. With all escape routes cut off, John de Tomas raised the white flag 1:54 into Round 2. Perez threatened the Filipino standout with chokes throughout much of the first round, providing a glimpse of what was to come. He executed a takedown inside the first 20 seconds of the middle stanza, advanced to side control and eventually wheeled to the back. John de Tomas was powerless to stop him. Perez punched away from the top ride position before snatching the neck, connecting his arms and forcing the tap.

Not Quite There

Longtime contender Joseph Benavidez took care of the surging Perez with first-round punches as part of “The Ultimate Fighter 28” Finale undercard on Nov. 30, 2018 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The end came 4:19 into Round 1. Benavidez darted in with his quick hands and floored the Californian before unleashing a series of punches and hammerfists. Referee Yves Lavigne stepped in to stop it, then rethought his decision and allowed the bout to continue. A puzzled Benavidez maintained his composure in the face of questionable officiating, bottled up his clearly compromised counterpart on the canvas and cut loose with more punches until Lavigne jumped in to secure the scene and shield a prone Perez from further punishment. The loss—Perez’s first in more than two years—snapped an eight-fight winning streak for the Team Oyama representative.

Arrival Time

Perez announced his arrival as a Top 5 flyweight when he put away former Shooto Brazil champion Jussier Formiga with a series of kicks to the lower leg in the first round of their UFC 250 prelim on June 6, 2020 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Formiga bowed out 4:06 into Round 1, his base having been chipped out from under him. Perez pushed a merciless pace, relied on effective counters in standup exchanges and continued to chip away at the Brazilian’s lower extremities. Formiga collapsed twice to the canvas after being struck on the calf. Referee Keith Peterson afforded him the opportunity to recover the first time but not the second. With that, Perez emerged as the No. 1 contender for the UFC flyweight championship.

An Opportunity Missed

Figueiredo retained the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight title when he submitted the Colin Oyama protégé with a guillotine choke in the first round of their UFC 255 headliner on Nov. 21, 2020 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Perez—who has not fought since—conceded defeat 1:57 into Round 1, his bid to capture the 125-pound throne denied with resounding authority. After eating a pair of powerful body kicks from Figueiredo, the challenger swooped in for a potential takedown. The champion initiated a scramble with an attempted leg lock, then caught the guillotine when the Californian made his move toward top position. A replacement for the injured Cody Garbrandt, Perez struggled vigorously to free himself but could not break out of the Brazilian’s clutches.