Stipe Miocic Backs Alex Pereira for Heavyweight Title

Former champion Stipe Miocic predicts Alex Pereira will secure a heavyweight crown in his upcoming bouts.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts

Stipe Miocic Backs Alex Pereira for Heavyweight Title

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Stipe Miocic has publicly endorsed Alex Pereira to capture a UFC heavyweight title as Pereira seeks to become a three-division champion. This endorsement comes ahead of Pereira's scheduled fight against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335.

Why it matters

The heavyweight division faces a significant shift following the vacancy of the title by Tom Aspinall. Miocic's support underscores the high stakes for Pereira as he attempts to expand his legacy across a third weight class.

Alex Pereira enters this pivotal heavyweight campaign following a loss to Ciryl Gane in June 2026. Pereira now aims to secure a title against Sergei Pavlovich after previous heavyweight attempts in the division.

The players

Stipe Miocic

A former UFC heavyweight champion who has previously held the title and competed in high-profile championship bouts.

Alex Pereira

A high-level combat sports athlete aiming to make history as a three-division UFC champion.

Sergei Pavlovich

A prominent heavyweight contender scheduled to face Alex Pereira at UFC 335.

Ciryl Gane

A top-ranked heavyweight competitor who holds a previous victory over Alex Pereira and is set to defend his title.

Tom Aspinall

A former title holder who recently vacated the UFC heavyweight championship.

The details

Stipe Miocic, who previously competed for the heavyweight title at Madison Square Garden in late 2024, believes Pereira has the path to success. Pereira is currently positioned to challenge for the belt after the title was vacated by Tom Aspinall.

June 2026 marked Pereira's heavyweight title fight loss to Ciryl Gane.
Late 2024 saw Stipe Miocic unsuccessfully challenge for the title.
UFC 334 will feature Ciryl Gane defending the title against Josh Hokit.
UFC 335 will feature the matchup between Alex Pereira and Sergei Pavlovich.

Season Trajectory

The heavyweight division is currently undergoing a massive reset following the vacancy of the title by Tom Aspinall. Pereira's pursuit of a third-division title at UFC 335 serves as the primary storyline determining the new hierarchy of the weight class.

Pereira's performance at UFC 335 against Sergei Pavlovich will dictate the immediate landscape of the heavyweight championship picture. Fans should note that the results at UFC 334 will determine which belt-holder eventually stands in the way of a potential three-division title run.

The takeaway

Legacy and division rankings are highly fluid as elite fighters attempt to transition across weight classes. Readers should observe how the upcoming bouts at UFC 334 and UFC 335 serve as the definitive qualifiers for the heavyweight championship belt.