“This Guy Is Mad”: UFC Heavyweight With 15 Knockouts Sparks Frenzy After Punching “Stubborn” Interviewer

“I’ll be back in the cage soon. I want to be active and perform so I can have a chance to fight for the belt again. This is my goal and we will get there! I see your support, thank you all!” Those were the words of Sergei Pavlovich after losing the interim heavyweight title to Tom Aspinall at UFC 295. While fans questioned the Russian powerhouse’s abilities following a second straight loss to Alexander Volkov, Pavlovich has since silenced critics with a two-fight winning streak.

At UFC Shanghai on Saturday, Sergei Pavlovich squared off against Waldo Cortes-Acosta in a featured heavyweight clash. Entering as the favorite, Pavlovich came in fresh off a decision win over Jair Rozenstruik, who has since exited the promotion. Cortes-Acosta had put together a five-fight streak before falling short against the 20-3 contender. However, it wasn’t the victory that got fans buzzing. It was a fiery post-fight exchange Sergei Pavlovich had with an interviewer, one that the heavyweight knockout artist recently shared, sparking plenty of chatter online.

Sergei Pavlovich shows even his ‘Fake’ punches hurt

Just a few hours ago, Sergei Pavlovich took to X and Instagram to share a lighthearted post-fight moment with fans. Captioned, “Stubborn journalist 😂 #ufc,” the clip showed Pavlovich in an amusing exchange with a Chinese interviewer who asked him to throw a fake punch. The translator suggested aiming for the shoulder, which both sides agreed on. But when Pavlovich let his fist fly, the shot landed with real power, leaving the interviewer screaming in pain before laughing it off, saying, “It wasn’t a fake one, bro.”

While the video quickly went viral, questions were also raised about Pavlovich’s most recent performance. After his win over the 14-2 Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Michael Bisping suggested on commentary that Sergei Pavlovich might have been held back at certain points in the fight. Still, there’s no denying that the Russian powerhouse looks to be back in form and ready for bigger challenges ahead.

During his post-fight interview inside the Octagon, Sergei Pavlovich thanked fans at home and abroad, saying, “Thank you China, thank you Russia for the support! And yes, if you look at the fight, you would know that we studied him. We knew that we were gonna be a new fighter inside here, a very intelligent Sergey Pavlovich. I would like to say that thank you to all who’ve helped me out. To all the guys I trained with, I couldn’t do it without you.”

Now, with Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane set to square off at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi this November, Sergei Pavlovich’s path to another title shot could be clearer than ever. One more statement victory may be all he needs to re-enter the championship conversation. But circling back to the viral clip, reactions from fans were split. Some praised the 20-3 fighter’s sense of humor, while others criticized him for hitting harder than expected. So what did the fans really have to say?

Sergei Pavlovich’s rage hits different

“I think that’s the same journalist who asked [Petr] Yan to punch him as well 😂,” one user wrote while sharing a clip. And it’s true – back on July 26, after Petr Yan defeated Marcus McGhee via unanimous decision in the Abu Dhabi co-main event, the very same interviewer asked the former bantamweight champ for an uppercut during the post-fight interview.

Meanwhile, another fan joked, “Translator saved him there saying how about shoulder 😂.” Others chimed in to praise Sergei Pavlovich’s punching power, with one user writing, “This guy is mad, he’s still going to be a champion 🙌.” The clip quickly turned into a mix of laughs and respect for the heavyweight’s raw strength.

Even fighters and personalities joined the conversation. MMA Content creator Nina Marie Daniele reacted with, “😂😂😂👊🏼,” while lightweight fighter Rasul “BlackTiger” Mirzaev added his own “😂🔥.” Still, not every comment was positive. One critic jabbed at Sergei Pavlovich’s power, posting, “still pu–y after KO Tom’s,” a reference to his first-round defeat against Tom Aspinall in 2023. Regardless, the 33-year-old’s latest win over a surging contender showed he remains a serious threat in the division. So what’s next for Sergei Pavlovich, you ask?

With Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida set to meet at UFC 321, a number-one contender fight against Almeida could be on the horizon if he pulls off the victory. If not, a clash with Derrick Lewis is another realistic option, especially after “The Black Beast” scored a big win over Tallison Teixeira at UFC Fight Night Nashville. That said, who do you want Sergei Pavlovich to fight next? And what are your thoughts on his hilarious exchange with the interviewer?