What Does Alex Pereira’s Nickname ‘Poatan’ Mean? Origin & Story Behind the Brazilian’s Moniker

The nickname was conferred on him by the first kickboxing trainer, Belocqua Wera, and also helped Pereira trace back his indigenous roots. Alex Pereira has even inked a tattoo of a few pebbles on his left hand, which is the most effective weapon he has, helping him earn numerous KO wins.

The nickname also highlights his deep connection to identity. While many UFC fighters adopt monikers for hype, Pereira’s is rooted in culture. Besides having a popular nickname among fans, Pereira also has an even more popular catchphrase.

Unlike in the WWE, very few fighters in the UFC have a catchphrase that fans can chant along with them. While there have been famous one-liners like Conor McGregor‘s “Who the f*** is that guy,” there has been nothing like the catchphrase that’s become increasingly popular among UFC fans as the one Alex Pereira uses. “Chama,” that’s all he needs to say to his fans.

But what does “Chama” mean? Well, it actually means flame in English when translated from Portuguese. However, Alex Pereira uses it as a hype word; something along the lines of “Come on” or “Let’s go.” The popularity of this catchphrase was there to see when Alex Pereira visited Canada for UFC 297 only to be bombarded with “Chama” by his fans.

Explaining Alex Pereira’s ‘stone hands’

So why does Pereira’s power feel almost otherworldly? As he once admitted, “Sometimes my power even scares me. I know my opponents choose to fight of their own free will. But they have families and loved ones, and I know I can hurt you.”

The science behind that power is fascinating. On the surface, a punch seems simple; force equals mass times acceleration. But experts argue the secret lies not just in muscle but in relaxation. According to Dr. Stuart McGill, a longtime professor at Ontario’s University of Waterloo, the ability to stay loose allows knockout artists like Pereira to unleash their full speed and energy just before impact.

According to an ESPN report, McGill noted that footwork, timing, and precision all matter, but what sets Pereira apart is how he positions his body and calmly channels force. The result? Some of the most frightening knockout power the UFC has ever seen.

Matt Brown, a retired MMA veteran known for his own finishing ability, confessed, “ The first thing I notice about him is his ability to relax. He’s very long, which creates a lot of leverage. His length and ability to relax generates a lot of power. He can fire his muscles so fast and create so much energy when he activates. He’s also very accurate, which can be trained but also most of the time, you’re born with it.”

The nickname has carried Pereira through glory and heartbreak. Earlier this year at UFC 313, he lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev by unanimous decision. The fight was close, but 11 of 21 media outlets scored it for the Russian. Now, fate has set the stage for a rematch at UFC 320 on October 4, but here’s the real question: can the “Stone Hand” break Ankalaev this time, or will the Russian fortress stand tall once more? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!