🚨BREAKING: Alex Pereira will be returning at UFC 335 in December, and he is stepping in there against Sergei Pavlovich. After falling short to Ciryl Gane, Pereira immediately pushed the UFC for a direct rematch, but Dana and Hunter shut that down right away. They told him straight up that if he wants another crack at the heavyweight belt, he has to earn it by beating a top five heavyweight first. Taking on a scary power puncher like Pavlovich is a massive test for him, but winning this contender fight is the only clear path he has left to force his way back into title contention. Does Pereira still have what it takes to bounce back and eventually become the first triple champ in UFC history?
Alex Pereira is set to return at UFC 335 in December, where he will face heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich in a contender bout, according to the latest word on the card.
The matchup follows Pereira's loss to Ciryl Gane. Pereira pushed the UFC for an immediate rematch, but Dana White and Hunter Campbell reportedly turned that request down. The message, as relayed, was that another shot at the heavyweight belt must be earned by first beating a top-five heavyweight. Pavlovich fits that description.
Pereira, known as Poatan, is 13-4-0 and ranked third at light heavyweight. The 39-year-old Brazilian trains out of Teixeira MMA & Fitness and fights from an orthodox stance. He stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, and he lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, an efficient striking profile. He rarely looks for takedowns, averaging just 0.11 per 15 minutes.
Pavlovich, 34, arrives at 20-3-0 and sits third in the heavyweight rankings. The Russian fights out of Eagles MMA from a southpaw stance. He is six-foot-three but carries an 84-inch reach, five inches longer than Pereira's. Pavlovich lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 44 percent accuracy, a lower-volume, power-oriented approach, and he averages 0.48 takedowns per 15 minutes with no submission attempts.
Why it matters
- Pereira's route back to a heavyweight title shot runs through a top-five opponent, so a win would restore his case for a rematch with Gane.
- Pavlovich holds a top-three ranking in his own division, making this a genuine ranked test rather than a stepping stone.
- The style contrast is stark: Pereira's accurate, high-volume striking against Pavlovich's reach advantage and power from the southpaw stance.
- The fight also keeps alive Pereira's pursuit of becoming the first triple champion in UFC history.
UFC 335 is scheduled for December, and the bout is framed as the clearest path for Pereira to force his way back into title contention at heavyweight.
