Pereira: Loss to Pavlovich Ends His Heavyweight Run

Alex Pereira says he will abandon heavyweight for good if he loses to Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 this December, telling Ariel Helwani he is done forcing the issue against bigger men.

"If I lose, I'm not going to stay at heavyweight," Pereira said. "Everyone knows I'm lighter than all those heavyweights. So I'm not going to keep trying to match their strength when I could do something else and be better off."

The 39-year-old former light heavyweight and middleweight champion is coming off a brutal beatdown at the hands of Ciryl Gane, a fight Pereira has argued was marred by illegal strikes and poor officiating. Rather than walk away from the division after that loss, he's giving heavyweight one more shot against Pavlovich in the UFC 335 co-main event on December 12 in Las Vegas.

What a Loss to Pavlovich Would Mean for Pereira's Career

Pereira has drawn his own line in the sand on this one. He is not hedging or leaving wiggle room, he's told the sport directly that a second straight heavyweight loss sends him back down to 205 pounds. That's notable given the division Pereira left behind. He once ruled light heavyweight, and the only man holding UFC gold there now that he hasn't already beaten is current champion Carlos Ulberg. A drop back down would immediately put Pereira in business with a fresh matchup he's never had, assuming Pereira comes back at all.

Betting Angle

Sergei Pavlovich has opened as a modest favorite over Pereira for UFC 335, with lines in the range of -135 to -150 for Pavlovich against Pereira sitting around plus-money, somewhere in the +110 to +150 range depending on the book. That number reflects exactly what Pereira is admitting out loud: the size and power differential at heavyweight is real, and bookmakers see this as a coin-flip-or-worse spot for him even against an opponent, in Pavlovich, who has had his own durability questions. For bettors, Pereira's public admission adds a layer worth watching. A fighter this candid about his size disadvantage isn't selling a false sense of invincibility, which makes the live dog price more interesting if you believe his hands and chin still travel at 265 pounds. But it also confirms the market's skepticism isn't overblown. If Pereira struggles again with the grind of handling a full-sized heavyweight, this program ends in December, by his own words, not just the oddsmakers'.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Alex Pereira say about losing to Sergei Pavlovich?

Alex Pereira said that if he loses to Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335, he will leave the heavyweight division and not continue competing at 265 pounds.

When is Alex Pereira vs. Sergei Pavlovich?

Alex Pereira faces Sergei Pavlovich in the UFC 335 co-main event on December 12 in Las Vegas.

Who is favored in the Pereira vs. Pavlovich odds?

Sergei Pavlovich has opened as a slight betting favorite over Alex Pereira ahead of their UFC 335 heavyweight bout.