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Fails in quest for UFC gold
Pavlovich came up short in his quest for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship on Saturday, falling to Tom Aspinall via KO (punches) at 1:09 of Round 1 at UFC 295 in New York City.
ANALYSIS
Well, we knew it wasn't going to last long, and it was Sergei who crumbled first. Pavlovich connected with one big shot in the early going, but Aspinall ate it without issue. He was eventually clipped with a blow to the side of the head that left him in all sorts of trouble, and Aspinall quickly finished Pavlovich off. Sergei was knocked out by Alistair Overeem in his UFC debut in November 2018 and had won six straight since, all via knockout. The power is obviously elite, but there are still questions about Pavlovich's secondary skills and cardio. Neither of those questions were answered here. Still just 31 years old and having taken very little damage over the course of his professional career, Sergei should remain in the title discussion for the next little while, at least. He'll likely be favored over most ranked heavyweights on the roster.
Well, we knew it wasn't going to last long, and it was Sergei who crumbled first. Pavlovich connected with one big shot in the early going, but Aspinall ate it without issue. He was eventually clipped with a blow to the side of the head that left him in all sorts of trouble, and Aspinall quickly finished Pavlovich off. Sergei was knocked out by Alistair Overeem in his UFC debut in November 2018 and had won six straight since, all via knockout. The power is obviously elite, but there are still questions about Pavlovich's secondary skills and cardio. Neither of those questions were answered here. Still just 31 years old and having taken very little damage over the course of his professional career, Sergei should remain in the title discussion for the next little while, at least. He'll likely be favored over most ranked heavyweights on the roster.
Fighting Aspinall at UFC 295
Pavlovich is scheduled to face Tom Aspinall at UFC 295 in New York on Nov. 11 in an interim heavyweight title fight, Shaheen Al-Shatti of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Pavlovich and Aspinall will both get a title shot after Jon Jones withdrew Tuesday from his title defense against Stipe Miocic after suffering a pectoral injury in training that will require surgery. Both Jones and Miocic were removed from the UFC 295 card entirely. Pavlovich's only professional loss came in his UFC debut in 2018, though he will square off against an opponent in Aspinall who has been similarly dominant throughout his career.
Pavlovich and Aspinall will both get a title shot after Jon Jones withdrew Tuesday from his title defense against Stipe Miocic after suffering a pectoral injury in training that will require surgery. Both Jones and Miocic were removed from the UFC 295 card entirely. Pavlovich's only professional loss came in his UFC debut in 2018, though he will square off against an opponent in Aspinall who has been similarly dominant throughout his career.
Slates as UFC 295 alternate
Pavlovich will serve as a potential alternate at UFC 295 in November for the heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Pavlovich also served as the alternate at UFC 285 for the heavyweight title fight between Jones and Ciryl Gane but ultimately was not needed. Jones has a history of fight-week complications, so Pavlovich is the backup plan. The 31-year-old Russian is riding a six-fight UFC win streak and could be up next for a shot at the title.
Pavlovich also served as the alternate at UFC 285 for the heavyweight title fight between Jones and Ciryl Gane but ultimately was not needed. Jones has a history of fight-week complications, so Pavlovich is the backup plan. The 31-year-old Russian is riding a six-fight UFC win streak and could be up next for a shot at the title.
Dominates again, title shot next?
Pavlovich defeated Curtis Blaydes via TKO (punches) at 3:08 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It's Pavlovich's sixth straight first-round knockout win. Most expected Blaydes to use his wrestling in an attempt to drain Sergei's gas tank, bur Blaydes instead elected to stand in front of Pavlovich in a back-and-forth slugfest, and Sergei isn't going to lose many of those. There's legitimate concerns regarding how Pavlovich's grappling will hold up, and if he can be effective after the first five minutes of a bout, but he clearly has an all-world skill in his arsenal. He said after the event that he plans on sitting out until he receives a title shot. UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are tentatively expected to fight later in the year at Madison Square Garden, possibly in November or December, so Pavlovich may be looking at a year on the sidelines if he sticks to his plan of remaining sidelined until a championship opportunity arrives. In the meantime, he'll take home a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for the electrifying stoppage -- his fourth of that variety with the UFC.
It's Pavlovich's sixth straight first-round knockout win. Most expected Blaydes to use his wrestling in an attempt to drain Sergei's gas tank, bur Blaydes instead elected to stand in front of Pavlovich in a back-and-forth slugfest, and Sergei isn't going to lose many of those. There's legitimate concerns regarding how Pavlovich's grappling will hold up, and if he can be effective after the first five minutes of a bout, but he clearly has an all-world skill in his arsenal. He said after the event that he plans on sitting out until he receives a title shot. UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are tentatively expected to fight later in the year at Madison Square Garden, possibly in November or December, so Pavlovich may be looking at a year on the sidelines if he sticks to his plan of remaining sidelined until a championship opportunity arrives. In the meantime, he'll take home a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for the electrifying stoppage -- his fourth of that variety with the UFC.
Tabbed as UFC 285 alternate
Pavlovich will be on hand at UFC 285 to serve as a potential alternate for Saturday's heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane, Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Considering Jones' history of fight-week complications, the UFC is simply creating a backup plan preserve the main event of a high-profile card. It also indicates that Pavlovich might be on the verge of a heavyweight title opportunity himself, even if that shot doesn't materialize this weekend. Meanwhile, his scheduled matchup against Curtis Blaydes on April 22 will presumably move forward as planned should Pavlovich not be needed here. The winner of that matchup would then make an outstanding case for a title shot against the winner of Jones and Gane at UFC 285.
Considering Jones' history of fight-week complications, the UFC is simply creating a backup plan preserve the main event of a high-profile card. It also indicates that Pavlovich might be on the verge of a heavyweight title opportunity himself, even if that shot doesn't materialize this weekend. Meanwhile, his scheduled matchup against Curtis Blaydes on April 22 will presumably move forward as planned should Pavlovich not be needed here. The winner of that matchup would then make an outstanding case for a title shot against the winner of Jones and Gane at UFC 285.