If you’ve spent any time on MMA Twitter or scrolled through TikTok lately, you might’ve seen those emotional clips of Alex "Poatan" Pereira shaving his head or sitting in a hospital ward. It’s heavy stuff. Naturally, fans started panicking. The search for "did Alex Pereira have cancer" spiked because, honestly, seeing a guy who looks like he’s carved out of granite suddenly appearing in a clinical setting is jarring.
But here is the straight truth: Alex Pereira does not have cancer, and he never has.
The confusion didn’t come out of nowhere, though. It’s actually rooted in one of the most human moments we’ve ever seen from a fighter who usually acts like a literal statue.
The Truth Behind the Viral Hospital Clips
So, why the rumors? Basically, it all goes back to a series of incredibly moving visits Pereira made to cancer wards and his interactions with young fans battling the disease. In mid-2024, a video went viral showing the Light Heavyweight champ visiting a cancer treatment center.
There was this young fan named Ashton. He was facing a brutal fight of his own and was about to lose his hair due to chemotherapy. In a show of pure solidarity, Pereira didn't just stand there for a photo op. He sat in the chair and let the kid shave his head.
Seeing the baddest man on the planet—a guy who knocks out world-class strikers with a "touch of death" left hook—breaking down in tears while supporting a sick child? It hit people hard. Because Poatan is usually so stoic and "stone-faced," some viewers who caught only a snippet of the video wrongly assumed the "sad news" or the "health update" was about Pereira himself.
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The internet is a giant game of telephone. One person posts "Alex Pereira at cancer hospital," and three shares later, it becomes "Alex Pereira has cancer." It's not true. He was there as an ambassador, a supporter, and a friend. In fact, by early 2025, Pereira even shared a follow-up story about Ashton being three months cancer-free.
Alex Pereira’s Real Health History and Injuries
While he hasn’t battled cancer, Pereira’s body has definitely been through the ringer. The guy is 37 and fights more often than almost anyone at the top of the UFC. That activity comes at a price. If you’re looking for why he’s actually been in the news for "health issues," it’s usually because he’s fighting through stuff that would put most people in bed for a month.
The UFC 307 Sickness
After his war with Khalil Rountree Jr., Alex dropped a bombshell. He’d spent the weeks leading up to the fight on heavy antibiotics. He had a fever, a nasty throat infection, and his body was essentially red-lining. He won anyway, but he admitted afterward that the physical and mental toll was "a lot."
The "Stone" Foot Issues
His nickname is Poatan (Stone Hands), but his feet might be made of glass—or maybe he just kicks too hard. At UFC 320 in late 2025, Alex reclaimed his title by knocking out Magomed Ankalaev in just 80 seconds. Sounds like a perfect night, right? Not quite.
As soon as he landed a lead leg kick, he felt his foot give out. X-rays and MRIs later confirmed a broken foot. This is actually the main reason he’s been on the sidelines recently.
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Battling the Bottle
If we’re talking about "life-threatening" struggles, we have to mention his past with alcohol. Long before the UFC, Pereira worked in a tire shop in Brazil and struggled heavily with addiction. He’s been very open about the fact that he started drinking at 12 years old. Finding kickboxing was quite literally his way of saving his own life. When he visits hospitals now, he’s coming from a place of someone who knows what it’s like to be in a dark hole.
Why the Rumors Keep Surfacing
Honestly, it’s the way media is consumed now. Search algorithms love "tragedy" and "miracle" stories. You’ll see YouTube thumbnails with Pereira’s face next to a hospital bed with a title like "SAD NEWS FOR POATAN."
It’s clickbait. Plain and simple.
They take his genuine charity work and frame it as a personal medical crisis to get you to click. It’s kinda gross, but that’s the reality of the "engagement" economy.
Also, Pereira's recent medical suspensions—like the one after his knockout loss to Israel Adesanya or the recovery time for his broken foot—get lumped into a general "Alex Pereira health" category. If you aren't reading the full articles, it's easy to get the wrong idea.
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What's Next for Poatan?
So, if he’s not sick, where is he?
He’s currently in recovery mode. Breaking a foot at 37 isn't a "walk it off" situation, even for a guy as tough as him. He’s already signaled that he’s looking at a massive 2026 return. There’s even talk of him headlining a special event at the White House or finally making the move up to Heavyweight to chase a third belt.
If you see a video of him in a hospital, don't panic. Check the context. He’s likely just there to give a kid a reason to smile or to get another X-ray on those "Stone" limbs of his.
Summary of Actionable Insights:
- Verify the Source: If a headline says a fighter is sick, check their official social media or reputable MMA news sites like Sherdog or MMA Fighting before sharing.
- Don't Fall for Thumbnails: High-drama YouTube thumbnails are almost always exaggerated.
- Respect the Privacy: While Alex is open about his past, he’s a private guy regarding his current training. If he had a major illness, it would be reported by official UFC medical bulletins, not a random TikTok account.
Keep an eye on his training footage from Connecticut. Once he’s back to kicking heavy bags without a walking boot, you’ll know the "Stone" is ready to roll again.