Sergei Pavlovich scored an incredible first-round KO over knockout specialist Tai Tuivasa on the main card of UFC Orlando. With this victory, the 30-year-old now ties UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for an elite UFC record.
The Russian heavyweight contender came determined to chase the finish as it was apparent from his approach from the very first sequence of the fight.
Pavlovich pressed forward and landed a vicious overhand right that dazed Tuivasa. ‘Bam Bam’ attempted to return fire but Pavlovich refused to take a back step and continued the onslaught on the feet.
Tai Tuivasa was knocked down three times before the fight came to a close. Sergei Pavlovich landed a perfectly timed uppercut as Tuivasa was on his way down and continued to attack him before the referee stepped in to call an end to the fight at the 0:54 mark of the very first round.
Check out the finishing sequence below:
With this victory, Sergei Pavlovich extended his UFC active knockout streak to five and cemented his position as a viable contender in the talent-stacked heavyweight division.
Also, the Russian has now tied Islam Makhachev & Jalin Turner for the longest active finish streak (5) in the UFC.
Did Tai Tuivasa return to the octagon too soon after the loss to Ciryl Gane?
Sergei Pavlovich handed Tai Tuivasa his second loss in three months with a devastating knockout victory over the Australian.
Tuivasa was on a massive career resurgence with a five-fight win streak which included a victory over the record holder for most knockout victories, Derrick Lewis.
‘Bam Bam’ finds himself in a tough spot once again now that he’s succumbed to back-to-back losses.
Former UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane, who snapped Tuivasa’s win streak at UFC Paris earlier this year, took to Twitter to lift his former opponent’s spirits:
“Keep your head up my guy Tai Tuivasa .And Pavlovich… you’re the REAL DEAL…!”
MMA fighters usually suffer from impaired motor skills in the immediate wake of a knockout. A variety of symptoms, including mental fuzziness, memory loss, insomnia, headaches, irritability, and sensitivity to light, are often the aftereffects of knockouts or other types of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Before an athlete can be given the clearance to resume their normal training regimen, those symptoms need to disappear over a prolonged period of time.
Hence, it is advised by professionals that fighters should take some necessary time away from training and the sport to recover completely. With all that in mind, a case can very well be made that Tai Tuivasa has returned back into competition too soon.
Elsewhere, MMA fans were gutted for their beloved heavyweight contender and voiced their concerns.
Check out some of the best reactions below: