Tag: Sergei Pavlovich

Tom Aspinall Reacts To Lackluster Pavlovich vs. Rozenstruik: ‘These Heavyweight Fights Absolutely Stink!’

Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall was among those unimpressed by Sergei Pavlovich’s decision win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik this past Saturday. Two of the division’s biggest power punchers collided on the main card of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night, which marked the mixed martial arts leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia. While the crowd inside […]

Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall was among those unimpressed by Sergei Pavlovich’s decision win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik this past Saturday.

Two of the division’s biggest power punchers collided on the main card of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night, which marked the mixed martial arts leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia.

While the crowd inside the anb Arena anticipated a knockout, they were instead treated to three rounds of lackluster action between the Russian and Surinamese behemoths, with the former emerging victorious on the scorecards.

Many fans were quick to express their discontent with the two fighters, and they weren’t the only ones bemused by how the bout unfolded.

Aspinall took to his Instagram Stories to slam his former opponent and “Bigi Boy,” before calling for his return in order to bring “excitement” back to the weight class.

Tom Aspinall

“These heavyweight fights lately absolutely stink,” Aspinall wrote. “Let’s get some excitement back and stop holding it up.”

Aspinall has held the interim belt since a first-round knockout triumph over Pavlovich in November 2023. He’s since defended it in a rematch with Curtis Blaydes, which he also won by way of stoppage in the opening frame.

All the while, Jon Jones has sat on the heavyweight throne and repeatedly dismissed a unification showdown, instead choosing to face Stipe Miocic last November in New York City.

Dana White has insisted that he intends on booking Jones vs. Aspinall in 2025, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will come to fruition. In his most recent remarks, the UFC CEO admitted the promotion could “move on” from the matchup.

‘Division Has Been Sh*t Since Ngannou Left’ – Fans React As Sergei Pavlovich Nets Lackluster Decision Over Jairzinho Rozenstruik At UFC Saudi Arabia

Early on at UFC Saudi Arabia, we witnessed what happens when there is a heavyweight highlight thanks to Shamil Gaziev’s first-round knockout of Thomas Petersen. Ranked contenders Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, however, provided the polar opposite of such an outing during the main card portion of the evening. Both fighters took a patient approach, […]

Early on at UFC Saudi Arabia, we witnessed what happens when there is a heavyweight highlight thanks to Shamil Gaziev’s first-round knockout of Thomas Petersen. Ranked contenders Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, however, provided the polar opposite of such an outing during the main card portion of the evening.

Both fighters took a patient approach, with neither man looking to pull the trigger and go to the next level. While Pavlovich landed the bigger shots, he did not connect with anything that would wobble and trouble Rozenstruik.

The former interim title challenger instead took “Bigi Boy” down, with his top control leading him to sweeping the judges’ scorecards.

Sergei Pavlovich Scores Decision Win In Snoozefest At UFC Saudi Arabia

This win bounces Pavlovich back from a pair of losses to current interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov.

Rozenstruik, meanwhile, is now 3-2 in his last five fights.

Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik – Odds and Match Preview

Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik - Odds and Match PreviewSergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s heavyweight clash at UFC Fight Night on February 1, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,…

Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik - Odds and Match Preview

Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s heavyweight clash at UFC Fight Night on February 1, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, promises to be an explosive encounter between two of the division’s most powerful strikers. Both fighters are known for their knockout power, making this bout a potential show-stealer on the card.

Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik – Odds

The betting odds for the upcoming heavyweight fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik heavily favor Pavlovich as the likely winner. Across the top betting apps, Pavlovich is listed as a significant favorite, with odds ranging from -310 to -235 depending on the platform.

This means bettors need to wager between $235 and $310 on Pavlovich to win $100. On the other hand, Rozenstruik is the underdog, with odds ranging from +185 to +260, meaning a $100 bet on him could yield a profit of $185 to $260 if he wins. 

The odds reflect Pavlovich’s reputation as a high-volume striker with devastating knockout power, despite his recent two-fight losing streak. Rozenstruik, while also known for his knockout ability and kickboxing pedigree, is seen as less likely to overcome Pavlovich’s reach and aggressive striking output. 

For Sergei Pavlovich, this fight is critical. He is coming off two consecutive losses, one via knockout to Tom Aspinall and another decision loss to Alexander Volkov. A win is essential for him to remain a viable contender in the division and to regain momentum in his career. 

On the other hand, Jairzinho Rozenstruik is looking to climb back into the top tier of the division after a mixed run of form. Both fighters are at a crossroads in their careers, and a victory here could significantly impact their standings.

Pavlovich is a striking specialist with a background in Greco-Roman wrestling and combat sambo. However, his primary weapon is his devastating knockout power. Despite his wrestling foundation, Pavlovich prefers to keep fights standing and overwhelm opponents with his striking. 

Rozenstruik comes from a decorated kickboxing background. He relies on heavy hands and powerful low kicks to dismantle opponents. His striking is straightforward but effective.

This fight is unlikely to go the distance. Pavlovich will look to use his speed and aggression to take control early, while Rozenstruik will aim to counter with his heavy hands and low kicks. With both men needing a win to stay relevant in the heavyweight title picture, expect an intense and high-stakes showdown.

Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik Set For UFC’s Second Saudi Arabia Event

UFC heavyweight contender Sergei Pavlovich will have the chance for redemption when he returns to Saudi Arabia early next year. Pavlovich (18-3) fell to the first losing skid of his career last time out in Riyadh, where his former training partner Alexander Volkov stifled his power en route to a comfortable unanimous decision victory. That […]

Continue Reading Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik Set For UFC’s Second Saudi Arabia Event at MMA News.

UFC heavyweight contender Sergei Pavlovich will have the chance for redemption when he returns to Saudi Arabia early next year.

Pavlovich (18-3) fell to the first losing skid of his career last time out in Riyadh, where his former training partner Alexander Volkov stifled his power en route to a comfortable unanimous decision victory.

That result followed a short-notice interim title defeat to Tom Aspinall last November at Madison Square Garden, where Pavlovich’s championship hopes were dashed by way of knockout in the very first round.

With that, the Russian’s streak of six straight first-round finishes and impressive performance against Curtis Blaydes have become a distant memory. But, he will look to change that and remind the division of his brutal power in 2025.

Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, the #4-ranked contender will return to the Kingdom Arena on Feb. 1, 2025, this time to throw down with Jairzinho Rozenstruik (15-5).

While Pavlovich will ride a losing skid into the contest, Rozenstruik is currently on his first win streak since having his undefeated record blemished by Francis Ngannou back in May 2020.

“Bigi Boy” went on an inconsistent run in the years that followed before finally stringing together wins this year with a knockout triumph over Shamil Gaziev and split decision against Tai Tuivasa.

Having cemented his spot inside the heavyweight top 10 in 2024, the Surinamese knockout artist will have the chance to return to title contention with a big performance opposite Pavlovich in Saudi Arabia.

Continue Reading Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik Set For UFC’s Second Saudi Arabia Event at MMA News.

Heavyweight Showdown: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik Set for UFC’s Saudi Arabia Return

UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Alexander Volkov in jeopardy over surprise bookingAccording to recent reports, the UFC is planning a heavyweight bout between Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik for an…

UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Alexander Volkov in jeopardy over surprise booking

According to recent reports, the UFC is planning a heavyweight bout between Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik for an upcoming event in Saudi Arabia. On February 1, 2025, at the Kingdom Arena. This event is known as UFC Fight Night 250.

Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

This heavyweight bout sees two highly-ranked heavyweight contenders against one another, with Sergei Pavlovich currently ranked No. 4 and Rozenstruik at No. 9 in the UFC division. Sergei Pavlovich (18-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) is looking to bounce back after two consecutive losses, which halted his impressive six-fight knockout streak. Rozenstruik (14-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC), is riding a two-fight winning streak and has shown recent improvement in his performances. Both men are known for their knockout power, with a combined 28 knockouts in their 33 wins, 24 of which occurred in the first round.

Sergei Pavlovich set to serve as backup to Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 295

UFC in Saudi Arabia

The February 1 event in Saudi Arabia will also feature a middleweight main event between Andre Muniz and Ikram Aliskerov.

Saudi Arabia has recently taken a strong interest in MMA. In 2023, Saudi-backed SRJ Sports Investments made a $100 million investment in the PFL, acquiring a minority stake.

The UFC recently signed a new deal to return to Saudi Arabia for multiple events, reportedly worth close to $40 million per event. This is a substantial increase from their previous $20 million deal.

Saudi Arabia has been hosting high-profile boxing matches and is looking to become a major hub for combat sports, rivaling traditional locations like Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi. The country has held several major boxing matches, including the “Battle of the Baddest” between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou in October 2023.

Tom Aspinall Describes Confidence Boost From Sergei Pavlovich Win Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Took The Fight On Short Notice, Injured…’ 

Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall won’t be short on self-belief when he enters the cage for his first defense this weekend. Aspinall is set to co-headline the UFC 304 pay-per-view event in his home city of Manchester, England, on July 27. He’ll make the walk in the early hours in pursuit of a first […]

Continue Reading Tom Aspinall Describes Confidence Boost From Sergei Pavlovich Win Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Took The Fight On Short Notice, Injured…’  at MMA News.

Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall won’t be short on self-belief when he enters the cage for his first defense this weekend.

Aspinall is set to co-headline the UFC 304 pay-per-view event in his home city of Manchester, England, on July 27. He’ll make the walk in the early hours in pursuit of a first title defense and redemption opposite the man against whom he suffered his sole Octagon setback to date.

The Brit briefly shared the cage with Curtis Blaydes in London two years ago, with their UFC Fight Night main event lasting just 15 seconds before Aspinall suffered a freak knee injury.

The 31-year-old has now been presented with the chance to right that wrong, and given the manner with which he captured UFC gold last November, he’s extremely confident in his chances of doing so…

Aspinall Full Of Self-Belief After Pulling Off UFC Title Win In ‘Worst Circumstances’

During a recent interview with Karyn Bryant, Rashad Evans, and Alan Jouban for ESPN MMA, Aspinall looked ahead to his upcoming defense of the interim title and second dance in the cage with Blaydes.

When it comes to his evolution as a fighter since their first clash in 2022, Aspinall believes the differences are night and day. That includes when it comes to confidence, in large part down to how the Brit was able to dispatch Sergei Pavlovich in less than ideal circumstances eight months ago.

“(I’ve improved) absolutely everywhere (since the first fight against Blaydes),” Aspinall said. “Every fight is different anyway, but I think now, everything is way different about me. Especially after my last performance; I took so much confidence from that. I took the fight on short notice, I took the fight injured, and I still managed to pull it off in the worst circumstances. Feeling pretty confident after that one, feeling pretty good.”

Aspinall will look to prove as much by having his hand raised on home soil this Saturday, avenging his unfortunate setback opposite “Razor” and maintaining his grip on the interim heavyweight gold in the process.

His defense will mark the first of two championship rematches set for UFC 304, with fellow UK titleholder Leon Edwards running it back with Belal Muhammad in defense of his welterweight strap.

Continue Reading Tom Aspinall Describes Confidence Boost From Sergei Pavlovich Win Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Took The Fight On Short Notice, Injured…’  at MMA News.