Cain Velasquez works with Alex Pereira on wrestling as UFC 335 nears

UFC heavyweight contender Alex Pereira is adding wrestling instruction from MMA legend Cain Velasquez as UFC 335 approaches, according to a report from Yahoo Sports. With Pereira’s Octagon return scheduled for December 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the emphasis from his team appears aimed at tightening up a key component of his overall skill set before a fight with title-path stakes.

Pereira, known primarily for his striking power, has built much of his UFC resume around standup impact. Still, as his competitive timeline has moved deeper into the championship conversation, opponents and matchmakers have increasingly placed emphasis on whether a fighter can control exchanges on the mat. The Velasquez-for-wrestling angle suggests Pereira and his camp see grappling detail as a practical edge rather than a theoretical weakness to patch later.

The Yahoo Sports report frames the instructional work as direct wrestling support from Velasquez, a former heavyweight champion with a well-established grappling pedigree. Velasquez’s role, as described, is not about changing who Pereira is as a fighter, but about helping him prepare for the positional and tactical questions that frequently decide heavyweight bouts when they move beyond striking range.

UFC 335 is also described in the report as the setting for Pereira’s return, with Sergei Pavlovich listed as the likely opponent in a No. 1 contender type of fight. Pavlovich’s reputation in the heavyweight division is built on strength and finishing ability, and matchups of that magnitude often force camps to consider more than one game plan. For Pereira, wrestling development can influence how he sets up his striking, how he responds if opponents clinch, and how he manages takedown attempts or scrambling sequences.

Velasquez’s presence also matters from a broader camp-management perspective. Heavyweight wrestling instruction is highly specific, with footwork, timing, and breakaway technique playing outsized roles. When a striking-forward fighter brings in an elite grappling coach or mentor, it can report an intent to improve not just defense, but the ability to transition into offense if the bout forces clinches, takedowns, or extended ground contact.

There are still unknowns that will determine how much the wrestling work changes the fight. Camps can emphasize a skill in training without that skill becoming a visible focal point during fight night, and the reported pairing alone does not confirm the exact strategic plan for exchanges. What is clear, based on the report, is that Pereira’s preparations for UFC 335 are drawing from heavyweight wrestling expertise as the division’s next contender storyline tightens.