Pereira says Herb Dean rescued a tired Gane and that a loss to Pavlovich at UFC 335 on Dec. 12 sends him back to 205 lb; Adesanya says the fight makes no sense to him.
From 11 reports by 6 outletsLatest Pereira says Dean rescued an exhausted Gane 5 updates 6 outlets
What we know
- Pereira vs. Pavlovich is the co-main event of UFC 335 on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas; Oliveira vs. Lopes for the BMF title is the main event.
- Pereira says he would return to 205 pounds if he loses to Pavlovich.
- Pereira is 0-1 at heavyweight after a TKO loss to Gane; the UFC still ranks him No. 3 at heavyweight.
- Gane, now undisputed champion, defends against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden.
Reported, not confirmed
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Angela Hill vs. Shanelle Dyer, a strawweight bout, is reportedly added to UFC 335; the UFC has not announced it.
Yahoo Sports MMA / Uncrowned
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Ian Machado Garry vs. Yaroslav Amosov is reportedly set for UFC 335; the UFC has not announced it.
Knockout Daily
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Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Damian Pinas is rumored for UFC 335, according to the insider MMA Chtivo; Pinas has said he will fight on the card without naming an opponent.
Blood & Sweat
Alex Pereira is already arguing about the last fight and planning for the one after the next. Before he meets Sergei Pavlovich, he has said the stoppage by Ciryl Gane should not have happened, and that a loss on Dec. 12 would end his heavyweight run.
On the Connect Cast podcast, in comments clipped and posted on X by Championship Rounds, Pereira said Gane wore himself out chasing a finish and was bailed out by referee Herb Dean. He said he heard Gane say afterward, "Thank God it's over." Dean has not responded in the report. The loss left Pereira 0-1 at heavyweight. Gane has since become undisputed champion and defends against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden.
The 205 talk came first, in an interview with Ariel Helwani, and Pereira repeated it on the podcast. He said he is lighter than the other heavyweights and will not stay to trade strength with them if he loses. Brazilian outlet Recorte da Luta also reports he plans to come in lighter against Pavlovich than he did against Gane, after criticism that added mass cost him speed.
Israel Adesanya did not like what he heard. In comments shared on X by @DovySimuMMA and quoted by MMA Junkie, he said he did not like Pereira putting an "if I lose" out there and did not know why he took the fight. Pereira is 39, a former two-division champion, still ranked No. 3 at heavyweight. Rizvan Kuniev has called that ranking very strange and says he wants Pereira next.
The stakes are real for both sides. A win keeps alive Pereira's chase for a title in a third division. For Pavlovich, who is 20-3 according to Knockout Daily, it is a chance to beat the biggest name in the division.
The card is still forming. The UFC has made no official announcement on several reported bouts. Watch for those to be confirmed, and for any response from Dean or Gane to Pereira's account of the stoppage.
On the Connect Cast podcast, in comments clipped and posted on X by Championship Rounds, Pereira said Gane wore himself out chasing a finish and was bailed out by referee Herb Dean. He said he heard Gane say afterward, "Thank God it's over." Dean has not responded in the report. The loss left Pereira 0-1 at heavyweight. Gane has since become undisputed champion and defends against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden.
The 205 talk came first, in an interview with Ariel Helwani, and Pereira repeated it on the podcast. He said he is lighter than the other heavyweights and will not stay to trade strength with them if he loses. Brazilian outlet Recorte da Luta also reports he plans to come in lighter against Pavlovich than he did against Gane, after criticism that added mass cost him speed.
Israel Adesanya did not like what he heard. In comments shared on X by @DovySimuMMA and quoted by MMA Junkie, he said he did not like Pereira putting an "if I lose" out there and did not know why he took the fight. Pereira is 39, a former two-division champion, still ranked No. 3 at heavyweight. Rizvan Kuniev has called that ranking very strange and says he wants Pereira next.
The stakes are real for both sides. A win keeps alive Pereira's chase for a title in a third division. For Pavlovich, who is 20-3 according to Knockout Daily, it is a chance to beat the biggest name in the division.
The card is still forming. The UFC has made no official announcement on several reported bouts. Watch for those to be confirmed, and for any response from Dean or Gane to Pereira's account of the stoppage.
- Summary
- Pereira says Herb Dean rescued a tired Gane and that a loss to Pavlovich at UFC 335 on Dec. 12 sends him back to 205 lb; Adesanya says the fight makes no sense to him.
- Key points (one per line)
- Pereira says referee Herb Dean saved an exhausted Ciryl Gane by stopping their fight while he was still standing.
Pereira faces Sergei Pavlovich in the UFC 335 co-main event on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas and says a loss means a return to 205 lb.
Israel Adesanya questioned why Pereira took the fight after hearing the 205 comments.
Hill vs. Dyer, Machado Garry vs. Amosov and Susurkaev vs. Pinas are reported or rumored for the card; none is official.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Recorte da Luta | https://recortedaluta.com.br/2026/10/24/poatan-coloca-futuro-nos-pesados-em-xeque-e-revela-plano-caso-perca-para-sergei-pavlovich-no-ufc-335-saiba/
Yahoo Sports MMA / Uncrowned | https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ufc-335-adds-angela-hill-162347664.html
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/ian-machado-garry-gets-yaroslav-amosov-next-after-falling-short-against-makhachev
Yardbarker MMA | https://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/ufc_reportedly_eyes_ex_bellator_champion_to_face_ian_garry_next/s1_17730_44470372
Blood & Sweat | https://www.bloodandsweat.ru/2026/10/slux-bajsangur-susurkaev-poderetsya-s-damianom-pinasom/
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/israel-adesanya-just-torched-alex-pereiras-heavyweight-escape-plan
FightTime.ru | https://fighttime.ru/news/item/44506-adesanya-raskritikoval-nastroj-perejry-pered-boem-s-pavlovichem-zachem-on-soglasilsya.html
Yardbarker MMA | https://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/it_doesnt_make_sense_to_me_israel_adesanya_ridicules_alex_pereiras_approach_ahead_of_the_pavlovich_fight/s1_17730_44474500
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/alex-pereira-says-herb-dean-rescued-an-exhausted-ciryl-gane
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/alex-pereira-already-has-his-escape-hatch-ready-if-sergei-pavlovich-beats-him
Blood & Sweat | https://www.bloodandsweat.ru/2026/10/slux-ien-machado-gerri-poderetsya-s-yaroslavom-amosovym/
Last edited:
UFC
Saturday, December 12, 2026
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Event details from TheSportsDB
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What they're saying
MMA Junkie@MMAJunkieIn the story
Israel Adesanya worries for Alex Pereira’s mindset ahead of facing Sergei Pavlovich at #UFC335
Oct 25 · View on X
wudao sports@wudaosports
Israel Adesanya heard Alex Pereira say a loss to Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 means he won't stay at heavyweight, and he went right at the small word: "what the f*ck you mean, 'If I lose?'" A Macedonian king once wrote Sparta that if he invaded he would turn them out. Sparta sent back one word, "If," and he marched in anyway. The word cuts both ways, and Pereira, lighter than all those heavyweights, he says, has already sent his to Pavlovich.
Oct 26 · View on X
MMA OWL🦉@_originaldev_
pereira told helwani if he loses to pavlovich at UFC 335 on dec 12, he's done at heavyweight and going back to 205. says he'll come in around 240 this time
Hot take: giving up that much size to pavlovich is scary. but if poatan lands first it's over
Oct 25 · View on X
Dovy🔌@DovySimuMMA
‼️🎙️Israel Adesanya:
“I saw a clip of Pereira saying if he loses to Pavlovich, he's going back down to 205. I don't like that. I don't like that he's putting that out there. Because what the f*ck you mean, 'If I lose?' I don't know why he's taking this fight. It doesn't make sense to me.”
Oct 25 · View on X
2UP MMA@2UPMMA
Israel Adesanya is worried about Alex Pereira's mindset going into his fight with Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 👀
Oct 25 · View on X
Chloe🍁@chloeloveletter
@realkevink garry vs amosov is the fight that actually makes sense for once, not another washed name for the highlight reel
Oct 25 · View on X
starstruck_mma@starstruck_mma
@ChampRDS If garry vs amosov is true, then i back this 100%. Let these guys hash it out for the title shot and see if amasov can get a title shot off of garry because him vs Islam is a very compelling fight.
Oct 24 · View on X
Fighters in this story
Alex Pereira
Baisangur Susurkaev
Ian Machado Garry
Damian Pinas
Ian Garry
Shanelle Dyer
Yaroslav Amosov
Angela Hill
Israel Adesanya
Islam Makhachev
Alexander Volkov
Rizvan Kuniev
Ciryl Gane
Josh HokitMore photos
How the story developed
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Pereira says Dean rescued an exhausted GaneKnockout Daily
-
Adesanya questions why Pereira took the Pavlovich fightKnockout Daily
Sources
Yardbarker MMA
Recorte da Luta
FightTime.ruSummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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