Chris Weidman backs Alex Pereira to get the better of Sergei Pavlovich in UFC 335 heavyweight co-main

UFC 335’s heavyweight co-main event has drawn a notable endorsement from former champion Chris Weidman, who picked Alex Pereira to beat Sergei Pavlovich in what he framed as a fight with major consequences for the division’s title picture. The bout is set for five rounds, a format that typically rewards sustained pressure and clear shot selection rather than short bursts, and it places two prominent heavyweights in direct title-or-eliminator territory.

Pereira enters as a former two-division champion, stepping into the heavyweight ranks after making his name at middleweight and light heavyweight. In this matchup, his challenge is straightforward, at least in style: Pavlovich is built to turn danger into results with heavy power and the ability to change the pace of a round. For fans, that contrast is the appeal, but the stakes are the reason it matters beyond entertainment.

Pavlovich comes into the fight positioned as one of the division’s top contenders. The pre-fight context circulated with the matchup places him as the No. 2 ranked heavyweight, and the opponent across from him, Pereira, is a former champion with a track record of adapting to top-level competition. When a No. 2 contender meets a high-level champion in a championship-caliber schedule window, the winner typically strengthens their claim to the next title opportunity.

Weidman’s pick places additional weight on Pereira’s ability to handle a heavyweight threat. As a former middleweight champion himself, Weidman’s commentary carries credibility rooted in elite-level competition, but it remains an opinion rather than a prediction backed by official bout outcome information. The only fact that is certain heading into the event is that the matchup is scheduled for Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and that it is labeled as a co-main attraction with championship implications.

The fight also adds to a broader narrative in UFC heavyweight competition. Heavyweight matchmaking tends to reward fighters who can both defend effectively and impose their own rhythm. A five-round co-main event gives each fighter more time to show whether their strengths carry across the middle and late portions of rounds, and it increases the likelihood that the fight’s tactical adjustments, not just early exchanges, decide momentum.

For bettors and prediction-minded viewers, the most meaningful takeaway from Weidman’s stance is not a guarantee but a lens on the stylistic matchup: he believes Pereira’s overall skill set and championship experience will translate into a win over Pavlovich. The practical question that remains is how Pereira will handle Pavlovich’s ability to threaten with power if he can force exchanges on his terms, and whether Pereira can sustain a scoring pace long enough to make the fight hard to steal late.