Coach Javier Mendez has described Sergei Pavlovich’s presence in the gym.
UFC heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich has racked up six consecutive first-round finishes inside the Octagon. If he can land a seventh this weekend, he’ll exit the cage as a champion.
In the co-main event of UFC 295, a pay-per-view event set for New York City’s Madison Square Garden, Sergei Pavlovich will go to battle against fellow top five contender Tom Aspinall with the interim title on the line.
The bout came together just last week after an injury forced reigning champion Jon Jones and his planned opponent Stipe Miocic off the November 11 card.
Pavlovich, who was already slated to weigh in this week as the backup fighter at UFC 295, will be hoping to continue his dominant streak on MMA’s biggest stage all the way to the belt.
To date, the likes of Curtis Blaydes, Derrick Lewis, and Tai Tuivasa have all fallen victim to the Russian’s shots. And that frightening striking threat hasn’t surprised one man who is familiar with Sergei Pavlovich’s talents.
Javier Mendez: No One At AKA Could Hang With Sergei Pavlovich On The Feet
During a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, American Kickboxing Academy coach and founder Javier Mendez looked ahead to UFC 295’s heavyweight title tilt by recalling the times Pavlovich spent training at his San Jose-based facility.
As it turns out, the Russian powerhouse’s dominance on the feet is nothing new. While the likes of Daniel Cormier enjoyed success against his unpolished grappling game, Mendez branded Sergei Pavlovich unmatchable when it came to striking practice.
“I’m very excited for this fight. I used to train Sergei way back about five, six years ago,” Mendez said. “He was training with me and I saw the green in him. Meaning he was very green but he was super, super talented. Very powerful. He had great striking, great power, and great attitude. He was so humble.
“I used to enjoy watching him go with Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier,” Mendez continued. “Daniel would kind of like, play with him. Only in the wrestling. No one could play with him in the standup. But in the wrestling and the grappling area, he was the junior to them… Daniel used to take him down and let him get back up, just to take him down again… It was rough for him on the ground, but in the standup? Oh no, Sergei could hang with anybody… Six years later, now we’re talking about a different person… I’m sure Sergei’s got everything.”
Pavlovich, who now trains at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, may well need to demonstrate the improvements made to his grappling game if he’s to have interim gold wrapped around his waist this weekend.
While his past six opponents have all failed to escape the first round, Aspinall is widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded talents rising up the heavyweight ladder.