Pereira warns Pavlovich will wrestle if early knockout shots miss at UFC 335

Alex Pereira has laid out his tactical read on Sergei Pavlovich ahead of their heavyweight co-main event at UFC 335, predicting the hard-hitting Russian will look for a takedown game if his early punches don’t find the mark.

The two meet at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 12, with Pereira (13-4) returning to action after a stoppage loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 in June. Pavlovich (21-3) arrives on a three-fight winning streak, most recently finishing Tallison Teixeira in just 39 seconds.

Speaking to Connect Cast, Pereira outlined exactly what he expects from his opponent. “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.”

The scouting report reflects a clear-eyed respect for Pavlovich’s knockout power — the Russian has built his reputation as one of the most dangerous finishers in the heavyweight division — while signalling that Pereira is preparing for a multi-dimensional threat rather than a one-dimensional striker.

For Pereira, the bout represents a chance to rebuild momentum at heavyweight following the defeat to Gane. Pavlovich, meanwhile, will be looking to cement his status as a legitimate title contender with a high-profile scalp in the co-main event slot.