Volkov warns Pereira faces losing streak as Pavlovich power poses bad stylistic matchup

Alexander Volkov has predicted that Alex Pereira is heading for a losing streak, arguing that his fellow Russian Sergei Pavlovich represents a deeply unfavourable stylistic matchup for the former light heavyweight champion ahead of their UFC 335 heavyweight bout on December 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Speaking to Helen Yee, Volkov was candid in his assessment. “I see Alex Pereira going on a losing streak because it’s a very hard matchup for him,” he said. “Pavlovich punches very hard. Considering [Pereira’s] style, it is a very bad matchup for him.”

Volkov also took a lighter tone when previewing the pre-fight press conference between the two fighters, both of whom have limited English. “It will be a very awesome press conference with both of them,” he said. “One of them will say, ‘We’ll see,’ and the other one will say, ‘Chama.’” The quip drew on Pereira’s well-known Brazilian Portuguese catchphrase and Pavlovich’s typically terse media appearances.

The matchup carries significant weight for Pereira (13-4), who moved up to heavyweight this year following three successful light heavyweight title defences. His debut in the division did not go to plan — he suffered a technical knockout loss to Ciryl Gane in an interim heavyweight title fight at UFC Freedom 250 in June, making Pavlovich an even more critical test of his credentials at the weight.

Pavlovich (21-3), meanwhile, arrives on the back of a three-fight winning streak and with a reputation as one of the most feared punchers in the heavyweight division — a quality Volkov knows first-hand. The two were once friends and teammates, but their relationship deteriorated ahead of their 2024 meeting. Volkov won by unanimous decision and attempted to reconcile afterwards, only for Pavlovich to shove him away.

Volkov himself is back in action before UFC 335, facing Rizvan Kuniev at UFC 333 on October 24 in Abu Dhabi.