Josh Hewett criticized UFC's description of Sergey Pavlovich as the heavyweight division's boogeyman following Pavlovich's knockout of Tallison Teixeira, saying anyone can look like a boogeyman fighting a Brazilian mannequin.
Josh Hewett took aim at the UFC's promotional framing of Sergey Pavlovich following the Russian heavyweight's knockout of Tallison Teixeira, arguing that the "boogeyman" label the promotion applied to Pavlovich was hardly earned against such an opponent. Hewett's remarks, delivered publicly, suggested that any fighter could look dominant when facing what he called a "Brazilian mannequin."
The target of that jab, Teixeira, is just 26 years old and entered the bout ranked 13th in the heavyweight division carrying a 9-1 record. The Brazilian, who fights out of Team Lucas Mineiro, stands six-foot-seven with an 83-inch reach — elite physical dimensions even by heavyweight standards. His statistical profile shows genuine offensive output, with 5.02 significant strikes landed per minute and a striking accuracy of 64 percent, figures that place him among the more active and precise heavyweights on the roster. He also averages 2.48 takedowns per 15 minutes, adding a wrestling dimension to his game. The loss to Pavlovich is only the second setback of his professional career.
Why it matters
- Hewett's comments directly challenge the UFC's narrative around Pavlovich as a fearsome divisional force, potentially influencing how the promotion markets him going forward
- Teixeira's ranking, physical tools, and active striking rate make the dismissal notable — if critics accept Hewett's framing, it could affect how Pavlovich is positioned in the heavyweight title picture
- At 26, Teixeira still projects as a long-term heavyweight contender, meaning the result and the public reaction to it carry weight beyond a single bout
