Aline Pereira relishes the mentorship of her brother and UFC champion Alex Pereira, even if he can be slightly overbearing at times.
Aline, who has competed three times in MMA before, is currently fully focused on her career with Karate Combat. She returns to action Friday at Karate Combat 52 in Miami (YouTube) when she takes on Gisela Luna.
Although they are in two different places in their combat sports journey, Aline, 34, said she enjoys having her brother by her side, even when it brings an additional level of pressure and attention.
“I feel really happy with all the attention that I’m getting, that people are showing my work,” Pereira told MMA Junkie through an interpreter. “This fight is another day for me to showcase my skills.
“I’m so used to it because every time I’ve fought my brother wins on an event before. He went all the way up high over there. It’s going to be the same story over here.”
With Alex finding shining success as a three-time defending UFC light heavyweight champion, he has a lot at stake in his own realm of fighting. Despite all that, Alex still finds time to help coach his sister and be present in her corner when she competes in Karate Combat.
According to Aline, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“He’s really picky (as a coach),” Pereira said. “He’s on top of it. He checks my opponents. Goes over it. Gives me the hints. But having him around is the best thing.”
