Joe Rogan sees Alex Pereira’s heavyweight plans continuing at UFC 335, but says Sergei Pavlovich presents a difficult route back toward Ciryl Gane and the title picture. Pereira and Pavlovich are set for a five-round heavyweight co-main event on December 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Speaking during the UFC 332 broadcast, Rogan addressed Pereira’s decision to remain at heavyweight after his first attempt at the division ended in a second-round TKO loss to Gane in June.
“‘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.”
Joe Rogan flags Sergei Pavlovich test for Alex Pereira at heavyweight
Pereira, 39, previously held UFC titles at middleweight and light heavyweight. He vacated the light heavyweight belt in February to chase a third divisional championship, then met Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250. The Brazilian lost in the second round, leaving him without a victory in the division entering UFC 335.
The December bout offers Pereira a chance to rebuild at heavyweight rather than return to 205 pounds. It is a non-title contest, although the stakes are clear: Gane is now the undisputed heavyweight champion, and a win over a ranked, in-form opponent would give Pereira a case to revisit a title opportunity.
Pavlovich, 34, enters with a 20-3 MMA record and a 9-3 UFC mark. He has won three straight fights following defeats to Alexander Volkov and Tom Aspinall, according to the UFC 335 booking report. Rogan’s assessment focuses on a physical matchup that differs from Pereira’s title runs at 185 and 205 pounds.
Pavlovich is a career heavyweight with a reputation for fast starts, power punching and direct boxing exchanges. Pereira carries elite kickboxing experience and has produced major finishes during his UFC run, but he will be giving up the familiarity of the lower divisions in his second heavyweight outing.
With Pereira, the assignment is straightforward: beat Pavlovich, demonstrate he can handle a proven heavyweight contender, and keep the Gane rematch in view. For Pavlovich, beating a former two-division champion would extend his winning run and strengthen his own claim in a crowded heavyweight race.
