UFC 335 will be a special night for “BMF” champion Charles Oliveira, getting to share a card with his longtime friend Alex Pereira.
“Do Bronx” called for a “huge” soccer stadium event in Brazil moments after he beat Mateusz Gamrot in Rio de Janeiro in 2025, and doubled down after beating Max Holloway in March—and he wanted Pereira to join him in the lineup. Part of his wish will come true on Dec. 12, when he shares a UFC card with “Poatan” in Las Vegas.
Oliveira and Pereira have known each other for
over a decade, and will once again compete on the same night at T-Mobile Arena in the top two fights against Diego Lopes and Sergei Pavlovich, respectively.
“Without a doubt, it’s something huge, something we’re really happy to be a part of alongside him,” Oliveira told MMA Fighting. “Two guys who came from the bottom, two guys who have been making history, two great UFC fighters—not just in Brazil, but around the entire world—getting to fight alongside each other. Two tough fights, both mine and his, but I really believe in Poatan’s firepower and his strategy, and in his ability to get in there and win.”
The Brazilian duo also fought on the same card in Las Vegas at UFC 300 in April 2024, when “Poatan” knocked out Jamahal Hill moments after Oliveira lost a close split decision to Arman Tsarukyan. Oliveira is now on a two-fight winning streak having beaten Gamrot and Holloway, and gears up to defend his BMF title against Lopes while Pereira battles Pavlovich in search of his first heavyweight win.
“Pavlovich is a very tough guy, a heavy hitter, a big guy, a strong guy, but Poatan is Poatan,” Oliveira said. “If Poatan lands a punch, if he’s in the right mindset and gets his timing right, if he lands that punch, he can also knock him out easily. It’s a very dangerous fight, I know that, but Pavlovich doesn’t defend against kicks, and Poatan kicks a lot. Poatan moves well. In reality, if he manages to connect and gets his timing right first, it will definitely be another great knockout.”
