Alex Pereira faces Russian heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335. This is ‘Poatan’s’ second heavyweight fight, and many fans believe Pavlovich could beat the Brazilian.
Pereira’s last fight against Ciryl Gane ended with the Brazilian getting brutally knocked out. However, Jon Anik believes Pavlovich might be an easier fight for Pereira. The UFC commentator was speaking on the Anik Bros podcast alongside his brother and was asked about the UFC 335 co-main event.
Anik brought up Gane being the toughest battle for anyone in the division, and then claimed Pavlovich would be an easier matchup:
“I think Ciryl Gane would be the biggest favorite against most of these guys, so yeah, I think that’s the toughest matchup for almost anyone.”
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Anik continued:
“So yeah, I think this is a more favourable matchup, but Sergei Pavlovich just brings a lot of experience, a lot of power, a lot of conditioning, commitment, now UFC experience upon which to draw, so I think it’s a great fight.”
The UFC commentator also spoke about the UFC 334 main event between Gane and Josh Hokit:
“It’s interesting that the Josh Hokit-Ciryl Gane was the fight to make, right, objectively. I am not an emotional shill. I am a fan more than a commentator.”
Anik then added that since Pereira wanted to fight at heavyweight, Pavlovich was the biggest name possible:
“I think for Alex Pereira, it was a decision to make. He wants to fight at heavyweight and this is the biggest fight that you can make.”
Check out Jon Anik speaking about Alex Pereira vs. Sergei Pavlovich from 3:48:
Joe Rogan worried for Alex Pereira
While Jon Anik believes Sergei Pavlovich is a better matchup for Alex Pereira when compared to Ciryl Gane, Joe Rogan still fears for the Brazilian.
Pavlovich is one of the best heavyweights in the division and is on a three-fight winning streak. The Russian has the power to knock out any heavyweight, and Rogan said this about the fight.
The UFC commentator brought it up during the recent UFC 332 broadcast:
“‘Poatan’ again at heavyweight, he’s determined to try to win a title at heavyweight, and the man won’t go back to light heavyweight. He’s like, ‘I want another shot at Ciryl Gane.’ He’s got to go through Sergei Pavlovich to get it, and that’s a tough task. Pavlovich is a huge, huge heavyweight with gigantic power and fantastic boxing.”
Edited by Saiyed Adeem Karim
