Three Fights Sergei Pavlovich Should Take Next After UFC 335

Sergei Pavlovich stands at a crossroads. The Russian knockout artist holds wins over Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa, but his 69-second title loss to Tom Aspinall in November 2023 and subsequent defeat to Alexander Volkov have complicated his path back to gold. Recent coverage suggests he could face Alex Pereira at UFC 335, a fight that would pit his first-round finishing power against a champion testing heavyweight waters. Whether that materializes or not, Pavlovich needs a statement win to re-enter the title conversation. Here are three fights that make sense, ranked by strategic value.

1. Curtis Blaydes
This is the fight that solves Pavlovich's biggest question mark: can he handle elite wrestling? Blaydes, a perennial contender with NCAA credentials and brutal ground-and-pound, would expose whether Pavlovich has shored up his grappling since the Volkov fight. The stylistic clash is pure MMA theater — Blaydes' relentless chain wrestling against Pavlovich's first-round blitz. If Pavlovich can stuff takedowns and land that overhand right, he proves he is more than a one-dimensional puncher. If Blaydes smothers him, the blueprint is out. Either outcome gives the division clarity. Blaydes is coming off a loss to Aspinall himself, so both men need a win to stay relevant. The narrative is clean: two contenders, one comeback slot.

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2. Ciryl Gane
Gane represents the speed and movement puzzle Pavlovich has not yet solved. The Frenchman's karate-based footwork and low-output precision striking would test whether Pavlovich can cut off the cage and force exchanges. Gane is 1-2 in his last three, including a decision loss to Jon Jones and a split verdict against Volkov, so he is equally desperate for a signature win. This fight has European rivalry undertones and would likely headline a Paris card if the UFC wanted to maximize international appeal. Stylistically, it is Pavlovich's pressure and power versus Gane's evasion and volume — a coin flip that could go either way. The winner would leapfrog into the top five conversation.

3. Jailton Almeida
If the UFC wants to build the next wave of heavyweight contenders, this is the fight. Almeida, the Brazilian submission specialist, is undefeated in the UFC with five straight finishes, most by rear-naked choke. He is younger, hungry, and stylistically dangerous — his grappling could nullify Pavlovich's striking entirely. The risk is high, but so is the reward. A win over Almeida would signal that Pavlovich has evolved beyond the fighter who struggled with Volkov's wrestling entries. It would also deny the division a rising threat. The downside: if Almeida submits him, Pavlovich's title window closes for good. This is the high-ceiling, high-floor gamble for a fighter who needs to prove he belongs in the championship tier.

Pavlovich's next move will define whether he remains a gatekeeper or becomes a legitimate title threat again. The heavyweight division rewards knockout artists, but only if they can survive the wrestlers and tacticians lurking in the top ten. Any of these three fights would answer that question.