In 2007 Jorge Pereira was the face of a controversial fighting promotion named Rio Heroes, an organization that brought back the old values of no-holds-barred to the fight business, screened from some of the most well known favelas in Brazil.

In 2007, Jorge Pereira received a groundbreaking proposal from American entrepreneur Jason Atkins, sparking a revolution in the fighting scene. With the support of various companies, Atkins launched an online channel called Tough Sports, centered around no-holds-barred fighting. Their flagship event, Rio Heroes, aimed for a raw take on mixed martial arts (MMA), capitalizing on its rising popularity. Embracing MMA's origins, specifically vale-tudo, the format allowed all strikes and featured matches with no time limits.

Rio Heroes was broadcasted live from a satellite truck, with the fights being held in some of Brazil’s scariest favelas. Jorge Pereira was the frontman of Rio Heroes who reached out to fighters, was the organization’s speaker and also its referee.

In the beginning of 2008, after a news report released by journalist Marlene Bergamo on the 31st of January in the “Folha de São Paulo” newspaper, the police shut down the event on suspicion that some gambling exchanges were being held in Brazilian territory. Although none of the allegations were proven by the police, the event never returned, stopping on its 14th edition.