UFC 335: Alex Pereira Sent Eye-Opening Warning Ahead of Sergei Pavlovich Fight

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When the UFC announced a heavyweight showdown between Alex Pereira and Sergei Pavlovich for UFC 335, the matchup immediately generated attention.

Pereira remains one of the promotion's biggest stars and continues his pursuit of a historic third UFC championship in a new weight class.

A fight for the Brazilian against a veteran of the weight class made sense once Josh Hokit was given the UFC heavyweight title shot at Madison Square Garden against current undisputed champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 334.

But not everyone is convinced the former middleweight and light heavyweight champion is built for success at heavyweight.

Among the skeptics is fellow heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov, who believes Pereira faces a daunting challenge when he steps into the Octagon against one of the division's most dangerous punchers.

Pereira's move to heavyweight has been closely monitored since his debut against Ciryl Gane, a fight that ended in the second round and raised questions about how the Brazilian's elite striking translates against naturally larger opponents. Now he gets another opportunity to prove he belongs among the heavyweight elite, but the betting market appears unconvinced.

Opening odds released following the fight's announcement during the UFC 332 broadcast installed Pavlovich as a slight favorite. The Russian has since seen his odds improve further as bettors continue backing his chances against Pereira.

Volkov insists he understands why.

Having beaten Pavlovich via unanimous decision at UFC Saudi Arabia in June 2024, Volkov knows exactly what sort of task Pereira is in for come December.

Before discussing the fight itself, Volkov poked fun at what could be one of the shortest and quietest pre-fight press conferences in recent UFC memory, with sports reporter Helen Yee.

“It will be a very awesome press conference for both of them. One of them will say, ‘We’ll see,’ and the other one will say, ‘Chama.’”

The joke landed because both fighters have built reputations as men who prefer action to words. However, Volkov's assessment of the fight was far more serious.

"But I see Alex Pereira going on a losing streak because it's a very hard matchup for him," Volkov said. "Especially because Pavlovich punches very hard, his [Pereira’s] style isn't a good matchup for him."

Poatan possesses world-class striking credentials and championship experience, but Pavlovich is a natural heavyweight with proven one-punch finishing ability. At this weight, size and power can quickly erase technical advantages.

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Even when the fight was announced, Joe Rogan quickly identified Pavlovich's biggest advantages: elite heavyweight size, dangerous boxing, and the kind of power capable of ending a fight with a single clean shot.

“‘Poatan’ again at heavyweight; he’s determined to try to win a title at heavyweight, and the man won’t go back to light heavyweight,” Rogan said. “He’s like, ‘I want another shot at Ciryl Gane.’ He’s got to go through Sergei Pavlovich to get it, and that’s a tough task. Pavlovich is a huge, huge heavyweight with gigantic power and fantastic boxing.”