Pereira vs Pavlovich is official. Alex Pereira will face Sergei Pavlovich in the UFC 335 co-main event on December 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, in a heavyweight fight scheduled for 5 rounds. Dana White announced it on Saturday, then the UFC confirmed it during the UFC 332 broadcast. The Brazilian is not going back to light heavyweight after his loss to Ciryl Gane.
Key takeaways
- Alex Pereira (13-4) faces Sergei Pavlovich (21-3) in the UFC 335 co-main event on December 12 in Las Vegas, over 5 rounds.
- Pereira stays at heavyweight after his round 2 TKO loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 in June.
- Pavlovich is on a 3-fight winning streak, including a 39-second KO of Tallison Teixeira in May.
Pereira vs Pavlovich: what was announced
Date and venue
The fight takes place on Saturday, December 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, as the UFC 335 co-main event. It is scheduled for 5 rounds at heavyweight.
How the news came out
Dana White revealed the matchup on Saturday during a livestream with Nina Drama. The UFC then confirmed it during the UFC 332 broadcast, with an official post about titans colliding in Vegas.
The rest of the card
According to Cageside Press and Yahoo Sports, Charles Oliveira will defend the BMF title against Diego Lopes in the main event. A middleweight fight between Joe Pyfer and Bo Nickal was also announced.
Alex Pereira, a 2nd test at heavyweight
The loss to Gane
A former middleweight and light heavyweight champion, Pereira gave up his light heavyweight belt to move up. In his heavyweight debut, in June at UFC Freedom 250, he lost by TKO in round 2 to Ciryl Gane in an interim title fight.
He stays in the division
At 39, the Brazilian holds a 13-4 record. This announcement confirms he continues at heavyweight instead of returning to 205 pounds.
What is at stake
Gane defends the title against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 on November 14. A win in December would put Pereira back in the race for the belt.
Titans collide in Vegas.
Sergei Pavlovich, 3 wins in a row
A streak rebuilt
The Russian, 21-3 overall and 9-3 in the UFC with 7 knockouts, beat Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Waldo Cortes-Acosta and then Tallison Teixeira. The last of them was knocked out in 39 seconds, in May.
His recent losses
Pavlovich lost to Tom Aspinall for the interim title in November 2023, by KO in 69 seconds, then to Alexander Volkov.
Follow the heavyweights
Pereira’s and Pavlovich’s profiles, their records and our heavyweight rating are in the FightHub app.
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