Alex Perez Bio
Alexander Salvador Perez is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of November 25, 2025, he is ranked number eleven in the UFC flyweight rankings. Born on March 21, 1992, in Hanford, California, Perez has been a steady presence in the flyweight class since joining the UFC roster in late 2017. He is widely recognized for his wrestling base, sharp submissions, and durable performances against some of the division’s top names.
Perez fights out of Lemoore, California, and represents Team Oyama in his professional career. Since turning professional in 2011, he has built a record that includes victories by knockout, submission, and decision. Outside the cage, he is a family man who has spoken openly about the role his brothers and hometown played in shaping his fighting career.
Early Life and Background
Alexander Salvador Perez was born on March 21, 1992, in Hanford, California, and grew up in a large family of Mexican descent with eight siblings. The household emphasized hard work and athletics, and Perez was introduced to combat sports at a young age. He began wrestling in the sixth grade, training alongside two of his brothers, Silverio Esparza and Julian Perez, who shared his competitive drive.
After completing high school at Lemoore under California Hall of Fame coach Kent Olson, Perez continued his wrestling career at West Hills College Lemoore. During his sophomore year, he earned the title of regional champion and was recognized as an All-American wrestler, accomplishments that cemented his reputation as one of the top junior college wrestlers in the region. Those achievements also opened the door to his later move into mixed martial arts.
Path to MMA
Following his collegiate wrestling career, Perez began helping friends train for their MMA fights, leaning on his grappling background to teach them the basics of the sport. That informal coaching role quickly grew into a personal ambition to compete. Encouraged by his brothers and training partners, he transitioned from wrestling mats to the MMA cage in the spring of 2011.
Perez made his professional debut on May 6, 2011, at TPF 9, where he faced Jesus Castro and won by knockout in the first round. The early knockout victory signaled the arrival of a heavy-handed wrestler with finishing instincts. He continued to compete regularly on the regional circuit, sharpening his striking and submission game while stacking up wins across the California fight scene.
Alex Perez Career
Early Career (2011-2017)
From 2011 through 2017, Perez built his record entirely in the United States, working his way through smaller promotions and regional shows. He amassed a total of sixteen wins against four losses, a strong run that earned him a shot at the UFC’s developmental platform. Along the way, he developed the well-rounded skill set that would later serve him against the world’s best flyweights.
In 2017, Perez was invited to Dana White’s Contender Series 5, where he faced Kevin Gray. Perez defeated Gray convincingly, and the win was enough to earn him a UFC contract. That fall 2017 victory marked the end of his regional chapter and the beginning of his journey on the sport’s biggest stage.
UFC Breakthrough (2017-2019)
Perez made his UFC debut on December 9, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 123 against Carlos John de Tomas and won by submission in the second round. In February 2018, he followed that up with a unanimous decision win over Eric Shelton at UFC on Fox 28, although the bout was moved to catchweight after he came in a half-pound over the flyweight limit, costing him a portion of his purse.
His next big moment came on August 9, 2018, at UFC 227, where he knocked out Jose Torres in the first round. The finish pushed him into the flyweight conversation. On November 30, 2018, at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale, Perez suffered the first setback of his UFC run, losing to Joseph Benavidez by technical knockout in round one. He bounced back on March 30, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 2, taking a unanimous decision over Mark De La Rosa in a short-notice bantamweight appearance.
Title Shot and Setbacks (2020-2022)
Perez’s most dramatic stretch began on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 166, when he submitted Jordan Espinosa with an arm-triangle choke in round one. The performance earned him a Performance of the Night award and a new level of recognition in the division. On June 6, 2020, at UFC 250, he added another first-round finish by stopping Jussier Formiga via technical knockout, locking up a second consecutive Performance of the Night bonus.
Those performances set up a UFC Flyweight Championship opportunity. On November 21, 2020, at UFC 255, Perez stepped in on short notice to challenge champion Deiveson Figueiredo, replacing an injured Cody Garbrandt. He was ultimately submitted by guillotine choke in round one. In 2021 and 2022, a series of canceled bouts against Matt Schnell, Askar Askarov, Kai Kara-France, and Manel Kape kept him on the sidelines for extended stretches, including a 2022 booking against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 277 that ended in a first-round submission loss.
Team Oyama Era (2022-2025)
After working through the cancellations and injuries of 2021 and 2022, Perez continued his UFC tenure fighting out of Team Oyama in California. He was booked against Muhammad Mokaev at UFC Fight Night 238 on March 2, 2024, and lost by unanimous decision after being taken down repeatedly. Less than two months later, on April 27, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 55, Perez stopped Matheus Nicolau by knockout in the second round, earning another Performance of the Night award and reminding the division of his finishing ability.
On June 15, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 58, Perez headlined against Tatsuro Taira but lost by technical knockout in the second round after suffering a knee injury. A scheduled August 2025 bout against Steve Erceg was scrapped after Perez withdrew for undisclosed reasons. He returned on November 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 265, where he lost to Asu Almabayev by guillotine choke submission in round three.
Style and Strengths
Perez is best known for his heavy hands and submission threat, tools built on the foundation of his All-American wrestling base. Out of Team Oyama, he has leaned on sharp first-round finishes, including knockouts and arm-triangle chokes, while continuing to develop his decision game when opponents survive the early storm. His ability to mix levels and threaten from multiple positions makes him a constant danger inside the flyweight top fifteen.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Perez’s career are his UFC debut submission win, his first-round knockout of Jose Torres at UFC 227, and his UFC Flyweight Championship opportunity against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 255. He has also earned multiple Performance of the Night bonuses, an All-American wrestling title from West Hills College Lemoore, and a UFC contract earned through Dana White’s Contender Series.
Alex Perez Career Wins
Across his professional career, Alexander Salvador Perez has compiled an MMA record that reflects a balanced finishing threat. He has earned wins by knockout, by submission, and by decision, with several of those victories earning Performance of the Night recognition from the UFC. His finish rate, combined with his durability against elite opposition, has kept him ranked inside the UFC flyweight top fifteen.
UFC Highlights
Perez’s UFC tenure features several first-round finishes, including his debut submission of Carlos John de Tomas, a knockout of Jose Torres, and an arm-triangle choke of Jordan Espinosa that earned a Performance of the Night bonus. He has also added a technical knockout of Jussier Formiga and a second-round knockout of Matheus Nicolau, the latter also earning a Performance of the Night. These performances have cemented his reputation as one of the more dangerous finishers in the flyweight class.
Other Wins and Performances
Before joining the UFC, Perez built his foundation on the regional circuit, where his 2011 debut knockout of Jesus Castro and a string of subsequent victories led to his invitation to Dana White’s Contender Series. His win over Kevin Gray on that platform secured his UFC contract and marked the transition from regional prospect to ranked UFC flyweight contender.
Alex Perez Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Alexander Salvador Perez comes from a large family of Mexican descent and is one of nine siblings. Two of his brothers, Silverio Esparza and Julian Perez, shared his early love of wrestling and trained alongside him during his formative years. The strong family foundation and competitive household helped shape his work ethic and disciplined approach to the sport.
Personal Life
Perez resides in Lemoore, California, where he continues to train out of Team Oyama. He and his wife have a son, born in 2021. Outside of fighting, Perez has spoken about the importance of family and his Lemoore community in keeping him grounded throughout the ups and downs of a UFC career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a difficult year for Alexander Salvador Perez, marked by a high-profile cancellation and a late return to action. A scheduled August 9, 2025, bout against former title challenger Steve Erceg at UFC on ESPN 72 was scrapped after Perez withdrew in mid-July for undisclosed reasons, leaving him without a fight for several months.
Perez finally stepped back into the cage on November 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 265, where he faced Asu Almabayev. The bout ended in a third-round guillotine choke loss for Perez, his second consecutive defeat inside the flyweight top fifteen. Despite the setback, he remained ranked number eleven in the UFC flyweight division as of late November 2025.
Looking ahead, Perez will look to close out 2025 with momentum and reestablish himself as a finisher in the flyweight class. His history of first-round finishes and Performance of the Night bonuses suggests that another short-notice opportunity against a top-ranked opponent could quickly turn his season around.
