Teixeira backs Pavlovich as better stylistic fit for Pereira than Gane at UFC 335

Glover Teixeira has backed Alex Pereira to fare better against Sergei Pavlovich than he did against Ciryl Gane, arguing the Russian’s more stationary style suits his protégé ahead of their co-main event clash at UFC 335 on 12 December in Las Vegas.

Pereira suffered a second-round technical knockout loss to Gane in his heavyweight debut at UFC Freedom 250 in June — a result that exposed the Brazilian’s vulnerability to mobile, evasive opponents. Teixeira, the former light heavyweight champion who coaches and mentors Pereira, believes Pavlovich presents a markedly different and more manageable puzzle.

“It was the fight to make. Every heavyweight fight is dangerous, and this one definitely isn’t going to the fifth round,” Teixeira said. “It’s a better matchup for ‘Poatan’ compared to Ciryl Gane’s style. Gane moves around more, while Pavlovich tends to stay more planted. To win, ‘Poatan’ needs to fight the right fight, maintain his distance and be faster.”

Teixeira was direct about the tactical blueprint he has drawn up for Pereira: use footwork to control range and exploit the speed advantage he believes his fighter holds over Pavlovich. Where Gane’s movement and evasiveness disrupted Pereira’s rhythm in June, the Russian’s tendency to stand and trade should, in Teixeira’s view, play into the former two-division champion’s hands.

The broader ambition driving Pereira’s heavyweight campaign remains unchanged. Teixeira confirmed that capturing the heavyweight title — which would make Pereira the first three-division UFC champion in the promotion’s history — is the explicit goal underpinning the Pavlovich fight.

“‘Poatan’s goal is still to win a third title, and that’s what he is focused on right now,” Teixeira added.

Pereira previously held the UFC middleweight and light heavyweight titles before moving up to heavyweight. A convincing win over Pavlovich at UFC 335 would position him as a credible challenger to reigning heavyweight champion Gane and set up a rematch with significant title implications.