Sergei Pavlovich could find himself fighting for the UFC heavyweight championship this weekend.
Pavlovich (17-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) has been designated as the official backup for the headlining title fight between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane this Saturday at UFC 285 in Las Vegas.
The news was first reported by UFC broadcast partner ESPN on Monday, citing Pavlovich’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz. This past Saturday, UFC president Dana White announced that a backup had been tabbed but did not specify whom.
Dana White says a backup fighter is in place for Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane at #UFC285 – but won't reveal who. 🧐
Full interview: https://t.co/1meIEFH6dD pic.twitter.com/gVqxGjLLME
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 26, 2023
Pavlovich will have to make weight Friday morning at the official weigh-ins and be below the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds. Only then will he be officially eligible to replace either Jones or Gane should he be needed.
Pavlovich, 30, is coming off five consecutive first round finishes. Since losing his UFC debut against Alistair Overeem in 2018, Pavlovich has run through Marcelo Holm, Maurice Greene, Shamil Abdurakhimov, Derrick Lewis, and most recently Tai Tuivasa.
The Russian contender does have a fight scheduled, as he’s set to meet top contender Curtis Blaydes in the main event of UFC Fight Night on April 22.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.
