“I feel like having that to come home to, and a reason to be home every night, but also her belief—because a lot of times, I didn’t believe in myself. She believed in me so much that it was hard to quit on myself,” UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier once shared, offering a glimpse into a deeply personal aspect of his life. He highlighted the importance of his wife, who has been a constant source of support throughout his journey. But not everyone shares the same fortunate circumstances as ‘The Diamond’. Take Alex Pereira, for instance.

In just under four years with the UFC, the Brazilian has quickly risen to the top, surpassing legendary fighters and achieving a level of success that few can rival. However, despite his meteoric rise in the sport, his personal life has been anything but smooth. As he entered 2024, ‘Poatan’ faced a significant heartbreak, showing that even the toughest warriors face battles beyond the Octagon. Now, as we move through March 2025, fans are left wondering: Is Alex Pereira truly single? Let’s take a closer look at his journey.

Is Alex Pereira single? The 205lbs champ’s relationship status

“Once bitten, twice shy” is a saying that resonates with Alex Pereira, who, after experiencing painful relationships in the past, isn’t rushing to dive into another one. Yet, after keeping his personal life private for months, it appears that the Brazilian may have found someone special. On New Year’s Eve 2025, Pereira shared a post with the caption “Feliz Ano Novo,” showing a picture of himself alongside a woman who had never been seen with him before—someone not connected to the fighting world. He also mentioned an Instagram account known for sharing relationship quotes, ‘poseiadeamor.’

The woman was later identified as Aline Antoniassi, who had previously posted a picture with Alex Pereira in 2024, captioned “my brother.” This seemed to put an end to any rumors of them dating.

Although they share a connection, the true nature of their relationship remains unclear. So, what exactly happened in the Brazilian’s past relationship that left him hesitant to open up again? Let’s explore the details.

What happened between Alex Pereira and Merle Christine?

Alex Pereira was once deeply in love with a woman named Merle Christine, and the couple dated for about two years before getting engaged in early 2023. However, just a few months into their engagement, the relationship fell apart. What went wrong? ‘Poatan’ later revealed a shocking truth that played a major role in the breakup—he discovered that Merle was already married during their relationship, which shattered his dreams of a future together.

The situation quickly turned into a public controversy when Merle released a statement, saying, “I was married in the past (Alex was too), but I got separated before I started a relationship with Alex. You guys are so stupid to think I could move to the States having a husband? LOL.” And after Merle’s response, Alex Pereira wasn’t silent.

He took to his social media to share his side of the story, writing, “Guys, Merle thinks she can manipulate you. I’ve been talking to her ex-husband for a few days, and today I know what she’s capable of. This was a respectful conversation between two people, and at the same time, she attacked me thinking I was going to retaliate. But I’m not throwing a tantrum about it! I have a video of her attacking me.”

Since then, the two have not spoken about each other or been seen together in public, leading many to believe that they had both moved on. However, towards the end of one of her Instagram stories, Merle hinted at revealing more of her side of the story but ultimately chose to remain silent, stating, “It wouldn’t end good, guys.” In the end, it was Alex Pereira’s family and his sons who supported him through the difficult times.

Who is the mother of Alex Pereira’s sons?

Alex Pereira has always been fiercely protective of his personal life, especially when it comes to his family. A prime example of this is his decision to keep the identity of his children’s mother’s name out of the public eye. Alessandro Vidal Silva and Lohan Vidal Silva are now in their teenage years and the brothers have begun to step into the world of fighting, a path that seems to be deeply influenced by their father’s kickboxing career.

Despite the prominence of Alex in the UFC, his past remains largely unexamined by the public. However, the Brazilian family’s story is starting to unfold, with Alex’s sons making their own mark in the fight world, often seen supporting their father at events or training on the mats. The public first got a glimpse of them during UFC 287, when Israel Adesanya mocked Alex Pereira’s sons for taunting him, a nod to their father’s knockout of Izzy in kickboxing and at UFC 281 in their first UFC title outing.

This moment was one of the few instances where Alex’s sons found themselves in the limelight. The identity of their mother, however, remains a closely guarded secret. After his split from Merle Christine, Alex Pereira’s name was linked to a new woman, a Brazilian UFC fighter. Let’s delve deeper into the story behind this chapter.

Did Alex Pereira date Polyana Viana?

Last year, after his breakup with Merle Christine, Alex Pereira’s name became linked to fellow UFC fighter Polyana Viana following a series of sparring and grappling sessions they shared. Videos and reels showcasing their close interactions quickly spread across the internet, leading fans to believe they were a couple. However, the speculation was short-lived when Pereira and Viana unfollowed each other on social media and removed their collaborative posts.

Subsequently, ‘Poatan’ addressed the rumors and clarified his relationship with Polyana Viana. He emphasized that there was no ill will between them, explaining, “Polyana is a very simple person. She is carving out her own space, and I see a lot of potential in her.” He went on to say, “Anyone in the UFC dreams of becoming a champion. She told me that was her dream, and I told her that my team and I could help her achieve it. She has great charisma. I’m not as charismatic… I think her simplicity plays a huge part in it.”

Despite Alex Pereira‘s various relationships throughout his career, one thing is certain: fans will forever remember him as the renegade UFC light heavyweight champion, whose legendary status in the sport is cemented. As he eyes a fourth defense of his 205lbs title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, there’s no doubt that his journey will continue to make history.