The number 2 heavyweight in the division has had an interesting past. As of September 2023, Sergei Pavlovich is the number 2 heavyweight in the division only behind Ciryl Gane and the champion, Jon Jones. However, how much do you really know about the 265 lbs slugger?

The Russian hails from a very curious background. While his MMA stats are very convincing of his power, it is something else that completely stands out. So, was Pavlovich a member of the Russian army? Here’s all you need to know about the fighter.

Sergei Pavlovich and his army background

The short answer is, yes. Sergei Pavlovich has served in the Russian army. However, not an awful lot is known about the fighter’s past. In fact, even his present remains shrouded in mystery. He maintains a very quiet personal life and does not interact with the media about his life.

However, he did take an interest in wrestling and then ended up serving in the army. Once he was out, he learned combat Sambo, a very popular martial art in Russia. This only points to the deeper military roots of his past. Sambo is a martial art that was developed and highly used by the Soviet Red Army.

Pavlovich quickly made a career for himself. Before his current professional status, he was a heavyweight champion at Fight Nights Global. The 31-year-old has impressive strength and endurance. Since 2018, he has lost only one fight in the UFC and that was against none other than Alistair Overeem.

Now, Sergei Pavlovich has another challenge waiting for him in the form of English star, Tom Aspinall. A battle between the two is soon set to occur and things are about to take off. Both the heavyweights have incredible records but will they be able to put up a brilliant performance? Aspinall’s previous knee injury might just give him some trouble.

Tom Aspinall and his knee

It has been a while since Aspinall got his knee injured during a fight against Curtis Blaydes. He tried throwing a kick and when he brought his leg back, it buckled and once Aspinall went down, he never really came back up. That’s until he was meant to face Marcin Tybura earlier this year.

Also read: What Happened to Tom Aspinall’s Knee? All We Know About the UFC Heavyweight’s Injury

In July, Aspinall made his return and defeated the fighter. He’s still sparring and practicing to the maximum and his limits are just about to be tested by a Russian who was in the military and holds a professional record of 18-1. Will Sergei Pavlovich overpower Aspinall? We’ll find out at the co-main event of UFC 295.

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