Welcome to The Weekly Takedown, Sports Illustrated’s in-depth look at MMA. Every week, this column offers insight and information on the most noteworthy stories in the fight world.
It isn’t enough to say Sergei Pavlovich won three fights in 2022.
He absolutely dominated them.
Pavlovich ended all three of those fights in the opening round, finishing two of them in the first minute. Now he approaches a heavyweight clash against Curtis Blaydes this Saturday, with the winner poised to challenge the heavyweight champion—whether that be reigning champ Jon Jones or No. 1 contender Stipe Miocic—likely early next year, unless Francis Ngannou returns.
No matter what happens with Jones, Miocic and potentially Ngannou, this is a significant fight. Surprisingly, despite his first-round dominance, Pavlovich claims this bout will last longer.
“Patience will be key,” says Pavlovich, speaking through a translator. “I can’t foresee the future, but I don’t think this will end in the first round. Curtis knows the stakes, too. There is a potential title shot on the line.”
Even though he states otherwise, it is hard to imagine Pavlovich (17–1) not blitzing Blaydes with an avalanche of shots in the opening moments. While he has a grappling pedigree, it would be a surprise if he goes that route against Blaydes (17–3, 1 NC).
It feels like a dose of misdirection when Pavlovich claims he plans to wrestle, yet it should be noted that the proud Russian certainly can grapple.
“Some people may think I can’t wrestle, but that’s not true,” says Pavlovich. “I can do more than just striking. This is mixed martial arts. I’ve researched my opponent, and I am ready.
“In order to advance, you need to face the best competition. I’m very hungry. I trained, I prepared. This is the most important fight of my career. I can’t wait to get in the cage and get it done.”
The safe bet is Pavlovich starts off with old-fashioned, blunt horsepower, testing Blaydes to see whether he can adjust—or if he accepts the same fate as Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis, Shamil Abdurakhimov and more than a dozen others before him.
“It is going to be a war,” says Pavlovich. “Fighting in the UFC is my dream. I’m going to keep pushing until I reach the top.”
Aaron Pico returns to the cage this Saturday for Bellator 295
Away since last October after suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery to repair, Pico (10–4) remains a top prospect at featherweight. His loss to Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator 286 may as well come with an asterisk, as Pico was still willing to fight—and the two will undoubtedly need to run it back. But the current focus for Pico is James Gonzalez, who is his opponent Saturday.
Aaron Pico
— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) April 19, 2023
MMA Career Recap
Record 10-4
THREAD: pic.twitter.com/1XlyX3fpy7
This was initially slated to be a fight against Otto Rodrigues. But he withdrew due to injury, opening the door for a new opponent. Gonzalez (10–5) has a superb nickname in “The Alley Cat,” and he has won four of his last five, including a victory against Cody Law last June. But with where Pico plans to go in the division, it would be devastating for him if Gonzalez were anything more than fodder in this return bout. If Pico is victorious, then a rematch against Kennedy should be next.
Dangerous as a wrestler and striker, Pico’s fights are always entertaining. It feels like a submission is coming Saturday, and it will be great for Bellator to have one of their emerging stars back in the cage.
Pico’s pursuit of the featherweight title starts anew Saturday. He needs to ensure there is no roadblock emerging from this fight.
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.
