Sergey Pavlovich is the heavyweight champion of Fight Nights Global (FNG)—or at least was until his contract run out. Now he seems likely to make a leap forward and sign with the most talent-stacked MMA organization, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). At 26 years old and four years into his professional career, Pavlovich is still relatively young in the sport, especially for the heavyweight division. His immaculate record of 12-0 (9 T/KO’s) includes solid wins over the who is who of the Russian heavyweight scene.
Pavlovich trains predominantly with Eagles MMA—one of the best camps in Russia, founded by current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov—and on occasion at the American Kickboxing Academy. Should he get signed to the UFC, he may look to mimic the training situation of Nurmagomedov by spending large chunks of his training camps stateside.
Strengths
- Athleticism
In a division where many fighters are used to carrying a few extra pounds due to the relaxed weight limit, Pavlovich stands out due to his physique. Standing at 6’3″ (190.5 cm) and weighing just below 250 lbs (113.4 kg), Pavlovich has a thick, muscle-bound frame. His formidable power is on display any time he throws a big strike and his athleticism is evident in his explosive movement and solid conditioning for a heavyweight.
- Greco-Roman Wrestling Base
Despite the majority of his wins coming by knockout, Pavlovich’s base is Greco-Roman wrestling. Although he doesn’t actively search for takedowns often, Pavlovich has sporadically demonstrated his wrestling skills with effortless body lock takedowns as well as the more conventional double-leg takedown. Having a solid wrestling base in his back pocket will prove to be useful for Pavlovich should he match against an opponent that he does not feel comfortable trading with on the feet.
- Strength of Competition
Many young fighters build their records up with wins over lower-level opposition and thus are unable to accurately gauge themselves before signing with the UFC. This shouldn’t be an issue for Pavlovich as he has already faced strong competition despite being an infant in the heavyweight division. As aforementioned, he holds wins over Baga Agaev and Alexei Kudin who are well-respected veterans of the Russian regional scene. He has also beaten Combat Sambo standout Mikhail Mokhnatkin as well as Fedor Emilianenko’s protege Kiril Sidelnikov.
- Power/Killer Instinct
It’s no surprise that Pavlovich packs a lot of power in his right hand, most recently demonstrated in his win over Kiril Sidelnikov. Complementing his serious knockout potential is his killer instinct: Pavlovich often blitzes his stunned opponents with heavy punching volume; he also utilises knees from the Muay Thai clinch.
- Cardio/Patience
Pavlovich has shown the ability to go the distance several times – a rarity for his weight class. His patience is likely key to his cardio being one of his strong suits. Pavlovich is very efficient in his movements and will not headhunt for the sake of it. He likes to pick his shots and is more than happy to slow the fight down if the opportunity is not there.
Weaknesses
- No Finishes Outside of the First Round
Despite his impressive finishing rate, Pavlovich has not finished a fight after the first round. Perhaps this is because of his unwillingness to overexert himself looking for a finish and gassing as a result. A similar trend can be seen when looking at the career of former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
- Plunge in Activity Past the First Round
Should the fight leave the first round, there is a high chance that it will be fought at a very slow pace, as seen in Pavlovich’s fights against Alexei Kudin and Mikhail Mokhnatkin. Although Pavlovich has shown the ability to score points in low-output fights, it is still a concern considering how unpredictable the judges can be. Such fights may be detrimental to his popularity as well as his rise up the ranks. A solution to this might be as simple as increasing the number of jabs and leg kicks thrown, both of which are not the most energy taxing strikes but can be used fill up the space between his explosive bursts.
- Lack of Wrestling
As previously mentioned, Pavlovich has a Greco-Roman base of which he has shown promising glimpses. However, he does not wrestle often; when he does, it’s usually done to keep his opponent guessing and not to carry out a prolonged ground attack. One of the reasons for this may be Pavlovich being afraid of tiring himself out should the opponent stuff his initial takedown. Nonetheless, Pavlovich should look to work on his top control as it may prove crucial when he faces higher calibre strikers.
Future
With the recent news that Pavlovich has become a free agent, it looks likely that his next fight will be in the UFC. The logical time for his debut is on the 15th of September when the UFC will make its first trip to Russia. A good first opponent would be someone just outside of the top 15. For example, Adam Wieczorek would be a good test but a very winnable fight at the same time.
Pavlovich is still only 26 years and would be one of the younger heavyweights on the UFC roster. I believe he is already a top 15 heavyweight and has the ability to become a title contender in two years’ time. He is already very well-rounded at a young age but still has a few areas to improve in before being ready to take on the elite of the division. If he fulfils his maximum potential, he can and will make a championship run.