“Everybody can feel it, what’s around him, what’s going on. I don’t think Alex can fight without it.” That’s what Jiri Prochazka said during an appearance on The MMA Hour, just before stepping in for his rematch with Alex Pereira at UFC 303. Prochazka knew exactly how dangerous Pereira could be and he felt it firsthand when ‘Poatan’ knocked him out with brutal elbows at UFC 295. Then, watching Pereira put Jamahal Hill to sleep at UFC 300 only made Jiri more convinced. To him, it’s not just raw power, there’s something else at play, something deeper that Pereira taps into and that idea has clearly stuck with him. 

Alex Pereira depicts a completely different picture. He stays connected to his Pataxo roots and proudly embraces his tribe’s ancestral rituals—something he was introduced to by his kickboxing coach, Beloqua Vera. ‘Poatan’ often speaks about these traditions, explaining that he practices them for cultural and spiritual reasons, not for any kind of supernatural advantage. He makes it clear that he believes in God and strongly rejects anything tied to black magic.

In an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Pereira brushed off Jiri’s claims by saying, “All respect to him, but no, man—I’m a God-fearing man. I have God in my heart. He’s just saying these things. I’ve never participated in any of that. I’m just a regular person.”

Before his fight against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, Alex Pereira turned to his roots and spent time with his tribe. He fully embraced the rituals, and many believed his victory was a done deal, especially with the blessings of his ancestors behind him. But things didn’t go his way. Ankalaev brought relentless pressure, and Pereira struggled to handle it. The loss didn’t shake his belief. He went right back to his tribe, reconnected with his culture, and once again committed himself to the spiritual practices that keep him grounded this time, ahead of the inevitable rematch.

While Pereira stands firm in his process, fans aren’t so sure. They still doubt whether these rituals can help him overcome what many see as the toughest test of his career, especially since he couldn’t make it past the first round last time.

Fans react to Alex Pereira’s visit to his tribe in Brazil

One user didn’t waste time pointing out Jiri Prochazka was right with his speculations, “Yeah okay, now we know Jiri was right”. Another just pointed out that this ritualistic experience can be for relaxation and not to achieve victory inside the cage, “Relax, it could be more relaxing. But not to win.” Another user explains that ‘Poatan’ is inhaled a medicinal smoke that could make him sneeze, “That is medicine you put up your nose. They put it through a tube and it makes your nose feel itchy you might have to sneeze.”

A user taunted Pereira with witty wordplay, “All that smoke to get smoked in the end’. Another user wrote that ‘Poatan’ took Ankalaev lightly, so his practices won’t help him, “He lost because he took Ankalaev lightly, there is no other reason like ancestor blessing and all this BS.” The Brazilian does spend a considerable time with his people, so a user just wants him to get back to training, “Bro does anything expect train.”

A user believes Pereira is still losing because he’s engaged in witchcraft and only GOD can save him, “Tbh Alex that could be the reason why your loosing lately even tho your a top 5 fighter. Those practices with the medication I explained is still witchcraft. Go to AlmightyGod Instead.” Another quoted Israel Adesanya’s explanation to Joe Rogan about ‘Poatan’s practices, “Juju begins.”

What do you think about Alex Pereira’s ancestry rituals? Let us know in the comments down below.