Alex Pereira is sticking with heavyweight after losing his divisional debut to Ciryl Gane, but he’s frustrated that the UFC passed over his preferred next fights: a rematch with Gane or a matchup with Josh Hokit. Instead, Pereira will face Sergei Pavlovich on Dec. 12 at UFC 334. He says the bout is a challenge he had already considered, even if he sees Pavlovich as more dangerous than Hokit.

By the Numbers
  • Pereira is 39.
  • He has three UFC heavyweight bouts scheduled or completed: his loss to Gane and his upcoming fight with Pavlovich make two; a third is not specified.
Yes, But

Pereira says he can still take a punch and rejects criticism of his durability after the knockout loss. He also acknowledges that if heavyweight stops working out, he may move on rather than become a stepping stone for younger fighters.

State of Play
  • Pereira faces Pavlovich at UFC 334 on Dec. 12.
  • Hokit is set to challenge Gane for the heavyweight title at Madison Square Garden.
  • Pereira considers Hokit inexperienced for a five-round title fight and says Gane is the tougher test.
What's Next

Pereira’s heavyweight future will hinge on how he fares against Pavlovich. A win keeps his pursuit of the division’s title alive; continued losses could lead him to reconsider his options.

Bottom Line

Pereira is choosing the harder road on purpose: he still wants heavyweight gold, but says he won’t linger if the results show it’s time to move on.