Alex Pereira and Sergei Pavlovich set for potential heavyweight title eliminator at UFC 335
Alex Pereira and Sergei Pavlovich are set for a potential heavyweight title eliminator at UFC 335 in a five-round co-main event.
A few days ago, UFC CEO Dana White teased fans about announcing Alex Pereira's next fight during UFC 322, and he followed through on that. On a livestream with UFC fighter interviewer Nina Marie Daniele, White announced that Pereira is set to return at UFC 335 against No. 2-ranked heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich.
Alex Pereira set to face Sergei Pavlovich in UFC 335 co-main event
Pereira is scheduled to face Pavlovich in a five-round co-main event at UFC 335. This will take place on Saturday, December 12, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. After White announced the matchup, the UFC officially confirmed the fight by posting about it on its social media accounts.
For Pereira, it will be his second outing in the UFC heavyweight division, having moved up after vacating his light heavyweight title. He faced Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt in his division debut, where he was knocked out in the second round.
The matchup against Pavlovich is an important chapter for Pereira, as many pundits suggested he move back down to the 205-pound division after his knockout loss to Gane, but 'Poatan' remains adamant about capturing a third belt in the UFC.
If Pereira manages to get the victory over Pavlovich at UFC 335, it would put him directly into heavyweight title contention. He would then face the winner of the Josh Hokit vs. Ciryl Gane fight at UFC 334 for the heavyweight title.
The Brazilian star has history with both Hokit and Gane. He faced Gane at UFC Fight Night 250, and in the lead-up to the event, 'The Incredible Hulk' was taking constant verbal jabs and calling out 'Poatan' for a potential showdown.
Alex Pereira gets major heavyweight test against Sergei Pavlovich
As for Pavlovich, after suffering back-to-back losses to Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov, he bounced back and is riding a three-fight win streak, with his most recent win coming via an impressive knockout of Tallison Teixeira back in May.
The winner of the Pereira vs. Pavlovich matchup at UFC 335 could be next in line for the heavyweight title shot, and the fight could be seen as a potential title eliminator. 'Poatan' will try to get his first win in the new division, while the Russian will look to extend his win streak and demand a title shot.
