Alex Pereira to face Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335

Alex Pereira is set to face Sergei Pavlovich in a five-round heavyweight co-main event at UFC 335 on December 12 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The matchup has drawn significant scrutiny from combat sports analysts and former fighters regarding Pereira’s transition to the heavyweight division.

Experts including Michael Bisping and Alexander Volkov have expressed concerns about the stylistic matchup. Bisping noted that Pereira’s mobility may be limited in the heavier weight class, while Volkov predicted a loss for the Brazilian, citing Pavlovich’s knockout power. Coach Ray Longo also suggested that Pereira may be undersized to compete effectively against elite heavyweights.

Former fighter Jorge Masvidal added that Pavlovich possesses ‘abnormal’ hand speed, comparable to middleweights, which poses a unique threat. This bout follows Pereira’s heavyweight debut loss to Ciryl Gane and serves as a critical step in his pursuit of a third title in a different weight class.