In case it was not obvious, Sergei Pavlovich is a serious problem in the UFC’s heavyweight division.
Australian cult hero Tai Tuivasa is no easy-beat — far from it — but on Sunday at UFC Fight Night in Orlando he was made to look second-rate by the bruising Russian.
Pavlovich, who now has five-straight wins by KO, came out swinging early but as Michael Bisping noted in commentary it was far more accurate than that of Tuivasa.
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“That’s crisp and precise boxing,” Bisping said.
“Devastating power. He’s clean, it’s not swinging or brawling. It’s very technical.”
Tuivasa was willing to engage in an all-out brawl too but struggled to land anything of note, with Pavlovich moving and striking with unstoppable precision.
Pavlovich made an early statement with a massive right hand that had the Australian stumbling, although Tuivasa fired right back with a shot of his own.
Unfortunately for Tuivasa there was no letting up from Pavlovich though, with the Russian dropping him for a second time with a jab and then following it up later with a big right hand.
By that point it was clear that Tuivasa was no match for Pavlovich, whose record improved to 18-1 as the Russian announced himself as a serious threat in the heavyweight division.
“That’s what I mean, he has so much belief in his power that he’s willing to just throw caution to the wind,” Daniel Cormier said in commentary.
“It is amazing to watch him and his approach. Look at the face of Tuivasa. A jab took him down and then Pavlovich swarms. Tuivasa tries to swing big and misses and Sergei makes him pay. Another Sergei Pavlovich washout. Unbelievable.”
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Tuivasa had suggested he is going to take an extended break from the UFC next year to spend more time with family and weigh up his next move in the MMA world.
Having suffered a TKO loss back in September against Ciryl Gane, Tuivasa had taken on another challenge against the Russian Pavlovich, who was riding a five-fight win streak.
“I suppose that’s why they offered him to me… everyone must be scared of him,” Tuivasa said earlier this week at the UFC’s media day.
Now even more people will be scared of Pavlovich, who had a clear message for UFC boss Dana White after the fight.
“I hope this time I deserve a bonus,” he said.
“Last time they stole my bonus. I deserve a bonus this time.”
Plenty in the UFC world seemed to agree, with many stunned at just how easily he took care of Tuivasa.
