Alex Pereira Next Fight: UFC 335 Matchup Confirmed

Alex Pereira’s next fight is officially set.

The former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion will return to the heavyweight division against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 on December 12, 2026, inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The UFC announced the five-round matchup, making Pereira vs. Pavlovich the co-main event of the card. For Pereira, this is an important opportunity to rebuild his heavyweight campaign after his loss to Ciryl Gane.

Pavlovich presents a completely different challenge. The Russian heavyweight is one of the division’s most dangerous knockout artists and enters the matchup with significant experience at the top level.

Here’s everything MMA fans need to know about Alex Pereira’s next fight, including his opponent, date, location, recent record, matchup analysis, and what could be at stake.

Alex Pereira Next Fight: Who Is He Fighting?

Alex Pereira will fight Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335.

The matchup is scheduled for five rounds and will serve as the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UFC 335 takes place on December 12, 2026.

The UFC has officially announced the fight, so this is no longer a rumored matchup.

UFC 335 will be headlined by Charles Oliveira vs. Diego Lopes, with the BMF title on the line.

Why Is Alex Pereira Fighting at Heavyweight Again?

Pereira’s decision to remain at heavyweight is one of the most interesting developments of his career.

He entered the division with an ambitious goal: become the first fighter in UFC history to win championships in three different weight classes.

Pereira had already captured UFC gold at middleweight and light heavyweight. A heavyweight championship would have completed an unprecedented three-division run.

That opportunity suffered a major setback when Ciryl Gane stopped Pereira by strikes in the second round at UFC Freedom 250.

Rather than immediately return to light heavyweight, Pereira is continuing his heavyweight campaign.

That makes the Pavlovich fight particularly important.

A victory would show that Pereira can compete with elite heavyweight opposition even after his loss to Gane.

Another defeat would raise serious questions about whether heavyweight is the right division for him.

Alex Pereira’s Recent Record

Pereira enters UFC 335 with a professional MMA record of 13-4, including 11 knockout victories, according to his UFC profile.

His career has been built around elite striking and devastating knockout power.

Before moving to heavyweight, Pereira became one of the UFC’s biggest stars by winning championships in two divisions.

His recent UFC run includes victories over some of the biggest names in the sport.

Most notably, Pereira stopped Magomed Ankalaev in the first round at UFC 320 to regain the light heavyweight championship.

His heavyweight debut against Gane ended differently.

Gane stopped Pereira in the second round, preventing Pereira from immediately capturing a third UFC championship.

Now the Brazilian has another opportunity to establish himself at 265 pounds.

Alex Pereira’s Recent UFC Fights

• Ciryl Gane: Loss by TKO, Round 2
• Magomed Ankalaev: Win by TKO, Round 1
• Magomed Ankalaev: Win by unanimous decision
• Jamahal Hill: Win by knockout
• Jiri Prochazka: Win by knockout

Pereira’s official UFC statistics list 11 knockout victories and five first-round finishes.

Sergei Pavlovich Is a Serious Test

If Pereira wanted an easy route back into the heavyweight division, he did not get one.

Sergei Pavlovich is one of the most dangerous opponents he could face.

The Russian heavyweight has developed a reputation as one of the division’s most powerful punchers. His forward pressure, speed and ability to put combinations together make him particularly dangerous in the opening minutes of a fight.

Pavlovich is also coming off three consecutive victories, including a knockout win over Tallison Teixeira that lasted less than a minute.

That recent momentum makes this matchup even more interesting.

Pavlovich has already competed for interim heavyweight gold. He challenged Tom Aspinall for the interim UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 295, losing by first-round knockout.

Since then, he has rebuilt his momentum.

A victory over Pereira would give Pavlovich one of the biggest wins of his career and strengthen his case for another championship opportunity.

Alex Pereira vs. Sergei Pavlovich: Striking Matchup

This could be one of the most dangerous striking matchups in the UFC.

Pereira is a decorated kickboxer who has successfully carried his striking into MMA.

His ability to control distance, attack from multiple ranges and land devastating counters has made him one of the most feared strikers in the UFC.

Pavlovich brings a different kind of striking threat.

He is an aggressive heavyweight puncher who can generate enormous power while moving forward.

That creates a fascinating tactical question:

Who can control the range first?

Pereira could benefit from keeping the fight at a distance where his kicks and counterstrikes become major weapons.

Pavlovich’s best opportunity could be applying pressure and forcing Pereira into uncomfortable exchanges.

At heavyweight, however, neither fighter can afford many mistakes.

One clean punch can completely change a fight.

What Does Pavlovich Need to Do?

Pavlovich’s most obvious weapon is pressure.

He has the ability to move forward aggressively while throwing powerful combinations.

Against Pereira, however, simply charging forward could be dangerous.

Pereira is an elite counter striker, and predictable forward movement could give him the openings he wants.

Pavlovich therefore needs to balance aggression with patience.

If he can force Pereira backward without walking directly into counters, he could make the fight extremely uncomfortable for the Brazilian.

His other major advantage is the heavyweight environment.

Pereira has proven that his power carries into heavyweight, but Pavlovich is a natural heavyweight who has spent years competing against large opponents.

That physical experience could become increasingly important as the fight progresses.

What Does Pereira Need to Do?

Pereira’s ideal fight probably involves controlling distance.

He does not need to stand directly in front of Pavlovich and trade punches.

Instead, Pereira can use his kicking game, movement and counterstriking to make Pavlovich work for every exchange.

The longer Pereira can keep the fight at his preferred range, the more opportunities he should have to exploit openings.

But there is an obvious danger.

Heavyweight fights can change instantly.

Pereira cannot afford to become overly confident simply because he has the more decorated striking résumé.

Pavlovich has enough power to end the fight with a single clean sequence.

What Is at Stake for Alex Pereira?

The stakes are enormous for Pereira.

He is not simply trying to add another win to his record.

He is trying to prove that his heavyweight career still has a future.

Pereira originally moved to heavyweight with the opportunity to become the first UFC fighter to win championships in three divisions.

That goal was interrupted by his loss to Gane.

A victory over Pavlovich would not immediately guarantee Pereira another title shot, but it would put him back into the heavyweight conversation.

For a fighter with Pereira’s résumé, that is a significant opportunity.

A win would also give him a major victory over an established heavyweight contender.

What Is at Stake for Sergei Pavlovich?

Pavlovich has just as much to gain.

The Russian heavyweight has already competed for interim championship gold.

Now he has an opportunity to defeat one of the biggest stars in MMA.

Pereira is not only a former two-division champion. He is also one of the UFC’s most recognizable fighters.

A win over him would give Pavlovich an important name on his résumé and could move him closer to another championship opportunity.

The matchup therefore carries significant implications for the heavyweight division.

Can Alex Pereira Still Become a Three-Division UFC Champion?

Yes, but the road has become much harder.

Pereira’s first attempt to become a three-division champion ended with his loss to Gane.

He now needs to establish himself in the heavyweight division before another title opportunity becomes realistic.

That means beating fighters like Pavlovich.

The heavyweight division also presents challenges that Pereira did not face at middleweight or light heavyweight.

The fighters are naturally larger, and the consequences of getting caught are even greater.

Pereira has already demonstrated that he can carry his knockout power into heavyweight competition.

The question now is whether he can consistently deal with the size, strength and power of the division’s best fighters.

When Is Alex Pereira’s Next Fight?

Alex Pereira’s next fight is scheduled for December 12, 2026.

He will face Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The UFC has scheduled the matchup as a five-round co-main event.

For US viewers, the UFC currently lists the UFC 335 main card for 9:00 p.m. ET, with the preliminary card beginning earlier.

Fight times can change depending on how quickly the earlier bouts finish, so fans should check the official UFC event page closer to fight night.

UFC 335: Pereira vs. Pavlovich

UFC 335 is shaping up as a major Las Vegas event.

The confirmed headline fights include:

Charles Oliveira vs. Diego Lopes
BMF Championship

Alex Pereira vs. Sergei Pavlovich
Heavyweight

Oliveira will defend the BMF title against Lopes in the main event, while Pereira and Pavlovich meet in the five-round co-main event.

Additional fights are expected to be added to the UFC 335 card.

For American MMA fans, the event also has the advantage of taking place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, one of the UFC’s biggest regular venues.

Alex Pereira vs. Sergei Pavlovich Prediction

This is an extremely difficult fight to predict.

Pereira has the more decorated résumé and arguably the more sophisticated striking arsenal.

Pavlovich has heavyweight experience and the kind of power that can completely change the fight in seconds.

The key question may be distance.

If Pereira can maintain range and force Pavlovich to enter through predictable openings, his technical striking could give him a major advantage.

If Pavlovich gets Pereira moving backward and begins landing combinations, the fight could become extremely dangerous for the Brazilian.

The five-round format also matters.

Five rounds give both fighters more time to make adjustments, but heavyweight power means that no round can be taken for granted.

Our early prediction: Pereira has the technical tools to win, but Pavlovich represents a genuine knockout threat from the opening bell.

That makes this one of the most intriguing heavyweight matchups on the UFC calendar.

Final Thoughts

Alex Pereira’s next fight is officially set.

The former two-division UFC champion will face Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 on December 12 in Las Vegas, with the fight scheduled for five rounds in the co-main event.

For Pereira, this is a chance to rebuild his heavyweight campaign after the loss to Ciryl Gane.

For Pavlovich, it is an opportunity to defeat one of the biggest names in MMA and strengthen his position near the top of the heavyweight division.

Both fighters have elite knockout power.

Both have championship-level experience.

And neither can afford many mistakes.

If Pereira wins, his heavyweight ambitions remain alive.

If Pavlovich wins, he could become one of the division’s biggest championship threats heading into 2027.

Either way, Pereira vs. Pavlovich has all the ingredients of a must-watch heavyweight fight.

FAQs

Who is Alex Pereira fighting next?

Alex Pereira is scheduled to fight Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 on December 12, 2026.

When is Alex Pereira’s next fight?

Pereira’s next fight is scheduled for December 12, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Who is Alex Pereira fighting at UFC 335?

Pereira will face Sergei Pavlovich in a five-round heavyweight co-main event.

Is Alex Pereira still fighting at heavyweight?

Yes. After losing his heavyweight debut to Ciryl Gane, Pereira is remaining at heavyweight and will face Pavlovich next.

Can Alex Pereira become a three-division UFC champion?

Pereira’s first attempt at winning a UFC championship in a third division ended with his loss to Ciryl Gane. He would need to establish himself in the heavyweight division and work his way back toward a title opportunity.