Pereira Expects Pavlovich to Mix in Wrestling at UFC 335

Alex Pereira expects Sergei Pavlovich to abandon his heavy hands and shoot for takedowns if their UFC 335 heavyweight clash turns into a striking standoff. The two meet in the co-main event on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, a fight that pits one of the sport's hardest-hitting knockout artists against a former light heavyweight champion still searching for his footing at 265 pounds.

Pereira laid out his read on Pavlovich's game plan in blunt terms, predicting the Russian will come out firing before pivoting to a grappling-heavy approach if the knockout shot doesn't land early. "I think against me, maybe he might think, 'I'm going to unleash the machine gun and knock this guy out,'" Pereira said. "I don't know what happens, but he might unleash the machine gun, and if he can't land his shots, he might try to wrestle me to wear me out. But I'm getting ready; I'm excited about the training and everything I've been doing with the team."

Why Pavlovich Might Actually Wrestle

A pivot to wrestling would mark a real departure for Pavlovich, who has built his heavyweight run almost entirely on power and finishing instinct. He enters UFC 335 on a three-fight winning streak, highlighted by a 39-second blowout finish of Tallison Teixeira in his most recent outing. That kind of form makes Pereira's prediction notable. Pavlovich has rarely needed a second plan when his hands are working, so if he does start hunting takedowns against Pereira, it likely means the standup isn't going his way, a sign the fight may be shifting in Pereira's favor in real time.

For Pereira, the challenge is different. He's coming off a stoppage loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 in June, his second defeat in his last three outings after years as one of the UFC's most dominant knockout threats across two divisions. A takedown-heavy Pavlovich would test exactly the part of Pereira's game that opponents have started to probe: his takedown defense and his composure when a fight leaves kickboxing range.

Betting Angle

Markets tend to price Pereira fights around his knockout power, and that won't change here given his history of ending fights with single strikes. But recent losses to grapplers and clinch-heavy opponents have chipped away at the aura that once made him a near-lock favorite in every matchup. If Pavlovich genuinely mixes in wrestling rather than swinging for 40 seconds like he did against Teixeira, this line could tighten as fight week approaches. Bettors watching line movement should pay attention to how training camp reports frame Pavlovich's grappling work; any signal he's drilling takedowns gives this co-main a very different complexion than a pure slugfest.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Alex Pereira and Sergei Pavlovich fight?

Alex Pereira and Sergei Pavlovich meet in the UFC 335 co-main event on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

What did Alex Pereira say about Sergei Pavlovich's game plan?

Alex Pereira said he expects Sergei Pavlovich to come out aggressively looking for a knockout, and if his punches don't land, to try wrestling to wear Pereira out.

What is Sergei Pavlovich's recent form heading into UFC 335?

Sergei Pavlovich is on a three-fight winning streak and most recently finished Tallison Teixeira in 39 seconds.