UFC 335 is quickly turning into one of the most interesting cards of 2026. Charles Oliveira is set to defend his BMF title against Diego Lopes in the main event, but the heavyweight showdown between Alex Pereira and Sergei Pavlovich could easily steal the spotlight. Pereira has decided to stay at heavyweight and will face the dangerous Russian in a five-round co-main event.
The fight could have major implications for the heavyweight title picture. Ciryl Gane is scheduled to defend his undisputed heavyweight championship against Josh Hokit at UFC 334, just a month before Pereira and Pavlovich meet inside the Octagon.
For Pereira, the fight is another chance to prove that he belongs among the heavyweights and keep his dream of becoming the UFC’s first three-division champion alive. However, Pavlovich is a completely different challenge.
Pereira struggled to find his usual rhythm against Gane at UFC Freedom 250, looking slower and less comfortable after moving up to the heavyweight division. Pavlovich brings serious power, size, and aggression to the matchup. The Russian is also known for weighing well over 260 pounds on fight night, making this another major test for Pereira.
That is exactly why Daniel Cormier recently shared his thoughts on which weight class is best suited for the Brazilian.
Daniel Cormier Believes Alex Pereira Was at His Best at 205lbs in the UFC
According to Cormier, Pereira should stay at 205 pounds if he wants to get the most out of his abilities. The former two-division champion believes heavyweight could simply be too much for Pereira. During a recent YouTube appearance, Cormier said, “I think heavyweight’s big. I think 185 is like killing him to make the weight. I think 205 is that sweet spot where he can ultimately max out his powers.”
The Hall of Famer also understands why Pereira would want to avoid cutting weight again after spending so much of his career doing it.
Cormier added, “I can understand where Alex is going: ‘Why should I ever have to cut weight again in my life?’ He hits so hard. He’s got so much power. He has all the skill and ability to be as good as he wants in any weight class he wants.”
However, Cormier believes there is a point where the size difference becomes too difficult to overcome. Weight classes exist for a reason, and even an elite fighter can run into problems when the physical gap becomes too large.
He added, “But there are weight classes for a reason. And I think heavyweight is like right at that limit of probably where he shouldn’t be.”
At the same time, DC is not completely counting Pereira out when it comes to his three-division championship dream. The former UFC champion believes “Poatan” has enough talent to potentially win the heavyweight title, although the size of the division could eventually become a major factor.
He said, “Alex does have the potential to become a heavyweight world champion. Size does matter in fighting, in wrestling. In any combat sport, size does matter at a particular point, especially when you start getting to the elite of the elite in that division.”
Daniel Cormier believes Alex Pereira should stay at light heavyweight, calling 205 pounds the perfect weight class for him.
DC says heavyweight may be too big for Pereira, while cutting back down to 185 would take too much out of him. At 205, he believes Pereira can fully maximize his power.
Via @dc_mma
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 3, 2026
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Pereira’s journey through the UFC makes his decision to move between weight classes even more interesting. He began his UFC career at middleweight and quickly captured the 185-pound title by beating Israel Adesanya at UFC 281. However, he lost the belt to Adesanya in their immediate rematch at UFC 287.
Pereira then moved up to light heavyweight, where he became a two-division champion by beating Jiri Prochazka for the vacant 205-pound title at UFC 295.
He went on to put together an impressive run at light heavyweight, defending the belt three times in just 175 days against Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. Pereira eventually lost the title to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, but he bounced back in spectacular fashion at UFC 320, reclaiming the championship with a brutal finish in just 80 seconds.
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After winning the 205-pound title for a second time, Pereira decided to make his long-awaited heavyweight debut at the White House. Unfortunately for “Poatan,” things did not go according to plan as Gane handed him the fourth and most brutal MMA loss of his career.
Now, Pereira gets another shot at proving himself at heavyweight when he meets Pavlovich at UFC 335. Whether he can make the necessary adjustments from his first heavyweight outing could determine whether his pursuit of a third UFC title remains realistic.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
