Tallison Teixeira believes Sergei Pavlovich has significant gaps in his game, particularly in jiu-jitsu. Teixeira stated that while Pavlovich trusts in his striking power, he is prepared to exploit the Russian's weaknesses on the ground.
Tallison Teixeira has set his sights on Sergei Pavlovich's ground game, stating publicly that the Russian heavyweight carries meaningful gaps in his jiu-jitsu and that he plans to take full advantage of them.
Teixeira, nicknamed "Xicao," enters the matchup as the No. 13-ranked heavyweight with a 9-1 record. The 26-year-old Brazilian trains out of Team Lucas Mineiro and presents a rare physical profile at heavyweight — standing six-foot-seven with an 83-inch reach. His numbers reflect a well-rounded attacker: he lands 5.02 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 64 percent, and he supplements that with 2.48 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, giving him a credible path to the canvas against any opponent.
Pavlovich sits at No. 3 in the division with a 20-3 record and a reputation built almost entirely on his knockout power. The 34-year-old Russian, fighting out of Eagles MMA, is a southpaw who stands six-foot-three with an 84-inch reach. His 4.43 significant strikes landed per minute underlines his offensive output, but a striking accuracy of just 44 percent and a takedown rate of 0.48 per 15 minutes point to exactly the areas Teixeira referenced. Pavlovich has recorded no submission attempts across his UFC career, reinforcing the portrait of a fighter whose game begins and ends on the feet.
Why it matters
- A grappling-heavy game plan from Teixeira could neutralize Pavlovich's most dangerous weapon — his one-punch finishing power
- Teixeira's takedown activity gives him a concrete tactical tool that Pavlovich has rarely been tested against at a high level
- A win for either fighter carries significant divisional implications, with Pavlovich protecting a top-three ranking and Teixeira looking to climb from 13th
