Alex Pereira's Heavyweight Run Rides on UFC 335

Alex Pereira says his stay at heavyweight hinges on one fight. He faces Sergei Pavlovich in the co-main event of UFC 335 on December 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In an interview with Connect Cast, Pereira—former two-division UFC champion—told he would drop back to 205 pounds if he loses. Pereira debuted at heavyweight in June against Ciryl Gane for the vacant interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn, but lost via second-round TKO. He chose to remain despite wanting an immediate rematch, arguing a second defeat would prove he’s at too much of a size disadvantage.

Pavlovich enters on a three-fight winning streak, including decision wins over Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Waldo Cortes-Acosta in 2025 and a 39-second knockout of Tallison Teixeira in May in Macau. Pereira expects Pavlovich to attack early—either by swinging hard or attempting wrestling if shots don’t land. Pereira’s past titles include middleweight success in 2022 over Israel Adesanya and a light heavyweight championship in 2023 over Jiri Prochazka.