Alex Perez

Alex Perez (born March 21, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

As of March 5, 2024, he is #8 in the UFC flyweight rankings.

Perez is of Mexican descent and has eight siblings.

He started wrestling in the sixth grade alongside his two brothers Silverio Esparza and Julian Perez.

Perez represent West Hills College Lemoore in junior college wrestling and he was the regional champion and All-American wrestler in his sophomore year in college.

After Perez completed high school at Lemoore, he began helping friends train for their MMA fights due to his wrestling experience.

Perez fought all of his fights in United States where he made his professional debut on May 6, 2011, at TPF 9.

He faced Jesus Castro and knockout Castro in round one.

He amassed a total of 16-4 before joining Dana White's Contender Series 5, facing Kevin Gray.

He defeated Gray, and with the win, he was signed by UFC.

Perez made his promotional debut on December 9, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega against Carlos John de Tomas.

He won the fight via submission in round two.

On February 24, 2018, Perez faced Eric Shelton at UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens.

At the weigh-ins, Perez weighed in at 126.5 pounds, a half pound over the flyweight non-title fight upper limit of 126 pounds.

As a result, the bout proceeded at catchweight and Perez was fined 20% of his purse which went to Shelton.

He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Perez faced Jose Torres on August 9, 2018, at UFC 227.

He won the fight via knockout in round one.

Perez faced Joseph Benavidez on November 30, 2018, at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale.

He lost the fight via technical knockout out in round one.

Perez faced Mark De La Rosa in a bantamweight bout on March 30, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 2.

He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Perez was scheduled to face Sergio Pettis on September 21, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 159.

However, Perez pulled out of the bout on August 26 citing an injury.

Perez faced Jordan Espinosa on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 166.

He won the fight via an arm-triangle choke in round one.

This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Perez's arm triangle was an on the fly adjustment and the first time he had submitted someone from that position.

Perez was expected to face Kai Kara-France on May 16, 2020.

However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that the event would be postponed to a future date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead Perez faced Jussier Formiga on June 6, 2020, at UFC 250.

He won the fight via first-round technical knockout.

This win earned him the Performance of the Night.

Perez was expected to face Brandon Moreno on November 21, 2020, at UFC 255.

However, on October 2, it was announced that Perez would face Deiveson Figueiredo, replacing an injured Cody Garbrandt for the UFC Flyweight Championship at the same event.

He lost the fight via guillotine choke submission in round one.

Perez was scheduled to meet Matt Schnell on May 15, 2021, at UFC 262.

However, for undisclosed reasons Perez was forced to pull out from the event and was replaced by Rogério Bontorin.

Perez was scheduled to face Askar Askarov on July 31, 2021, on UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland.

However, Askarov pulled out of the fight in early July citing injury.