SportsPreview
The biggest question facing every WNBA team in training camp
WNBA training camps open with key questions for each team.
ESPN News1 min read
Sports
Alex Pereira named Forrest Griffin Community Award winner for 2026 UFC Hall of Fame
TL;DR
Alex Pereira has been awarded the 2026 Forrest Griffin Community Award for his significant charitable contributions, particularly in Brazil. He will receive a $25,000 donation for his charity work, which includes providing tutoring and sports programs for local youth.
Alex Pereira will receive recognition for his contributions outside of the octagon during the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame ceremony.
Former two-time light heavyweight champion Pereira has been selected as the winner of the 2026 Forrest Griffin Community Award, which highlights an athlete who has done "exceptional volunteer and charity work and the meaningful impact their efforts have on the community."
“Alex is one of the biggest stars in the world and it’s great to see him use his platform to give back to the community by helping youth in Brazil,” UFC CEO Dana White said in a press release. “By offering free after-school tutoring, computer literacy programs, and jiu-jitsu training to more than 500 local youth, he is directly helping the students create better lives e for themselves. It’s an honor to present him with this award.”
Pereira will be granted a $25,000 donation to the charity of his choice through the UFC Foundation.
The majority of Pereira's charity work comes through The Instituto Poatan (Poatan Institute / Poatan Cares Foundation), which he founded in 2024. The institute’s mission is to "promote social and sports initiatives, using sports as a tool for transformation. The non-profits vision is to become a benchmark for encouraging, expanding, and spreading sports practices that drive social, educational, and community development."
Other fighters to be acknowledged with the Forrest Griffin Community award include Dustin Poirier (2021), Max Holloway (2022), Giga Chikadze (2022), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (2023), Beneil Dariush (2024) and Charles Oliveira (2025).
Oliveira joins the 2026 class of the UFC Hall of Fame that includes Dominick Cruz (Modern Wing), Demetrious Johnson (Modern Wing), and Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk from UFC 248 (Fight Wing).
The 2026 UFC Hall of Fame ceremony takes place July 9 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as part of the promotion's 14th annual International Fight Week.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Alex Pereira named Community Award winner for 2026 UFC Hall of Fame
Q&A
What is the Forrest Griffin Community Award?
The Forrest Griffin Community Award recognizes athletes for exceptional volunteer and charity work that positively impacts their communities.
How much money will Alex Pereira's charity receive?
Alex Pereira's charity will receive a $25,000 donation through the UFC Foundation.
What programs does Alex Pereira's Instituto Poatan offer?
Instituto Poatan offers free after-school tutoring, computer literacy programs, and jiu-jitsu training to over 500 local youth in Brazil.
