Alex Pereira’s pursuit of UFC history as a three-division champion hit a major speed bump, and veteran coach Ray Longo believes “Poatan” may simply be outsized at heavyweight. Pereira’s second-round stoppage loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC White House in June served as a stark reminder of the division’s lethal power. Longo highlighted the danger of Pereira’s low-guard style when trading blows with 250-pound powerhouses, noting that even a clean jab from Gane was enough to rock the former light heavyweight king.
Despite an illustrious record featuring iconic wins over Adesanya, Blachowicz, Prochazka, Strickland, and Ankalaev, Pereira faces another brutal test on Dec. 12 at UFC 335 against power-puncher Sergei Pavlovich. A victory over Pavlovich could thrust Pereira back into title contention for 2027, but taking heavy firepower head-on at 265 pounds remains a high-stakes gamble.
