Alex Pereira’s loss to Ciryl Gane derailed his plan to make a callout at UFC Freedom 250

Alex Pereira wanted to fight Sergei Pavlovich before they were matched for UFC 335.

Pereira has said that he won’t continue to fight if he’s not having success after feeling like he has nothing to prove at this stage.

While ‘Poatan’ has already achieved a legendary career, there are some big questions hanging over his return to the Octagon on December 12.

Pereira has made his feelings on Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit clear, but it was a different heavyweight that he had on his mind heading into his first bout in the division.

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Alex Pereira wanted to call out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Freedom 250 in search of revenge

Alex Pereira has said he won’t stay at heavyweight if UFC 335 doesn’t go his way.

The former middleweight and light heavyweight champion is set to face knockout artist Sergei Pavlovich in the five-round co-main event.

While ‘Poatan’ has voiced some frustrations over not fighting Ciryl Gane or Josh Hokit instead, he’s had his sights set on his next foe for some time.

On December 12, Pereira can get revenge for his teammate Tallison Teixeira, who was stopped by Pavlovich in just 39 seconds back in May.

The Brazilian star revealed through his translator and coach Plinio Cruz on The Ariel Helwani Show that this is something he had planned out before fighting at the White House.

“When I [Pereira] was training for the Gane fight and Tallison Teixeira was in camp with us, he fought Pavlovich and he lost. So back then, the guys are going, ‘He’s tough, he’s a machine’ and this and that. Alex, his mind was like, ‘Bro, I’m gonna beat Ciryl Gane and right there on the microphone, I’m gonna call out Pavlovich because I think it’s a good fight’. He likes the challenge.”

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Alex Pereira highlights Sergei Pavlovich’s cardio when breaking down matchup

Alex Pereira said during the interview that he believes Josh Hokit would have been an easier fight for him at heavyweight than Sergei Pavlovich.

After the fight was announced, fans raised concerns about how big and powerful the Russian is.

‘Poatan’ believes that while both of those things are true, he also brings advantages to this matchup that make him confident in his chances.

“I think I’m technically better,” he said. “He is strong. Yes, for sure he is very strong. He is aggressive. But, you see that he has cardio, but he fights at a very low pace in the fight. So, I don’t know how it’s going to be if I get him to move a lot. The reality is yes, he’s aggressive, he’s dangerous, but I think I’m technically better than him but also I’m strong. He’s strong but I’m also strong and I can move.”