Josh Hewitt responded to UFC's post calling Sergey Pavlovich the heavyweight boogeyman after his knockout of Tallison Teixeira. Hewitt dismissed the praise, saying anyone can look like a boogeyman when fighting a Brazilian mannequin. He suggested Pavlovich should beat Derrick Lewis before getting credit.
Josh Hewitt took aim at the UFC's social media team after the promotion labeled Sergey Pavlovich the heavyweight division's boogeyman following his knockout of Tallison Teixeira, pushing back on the hype with a sharp dismissal of the competition Pavlovich faced.
Hewitt argued the praise was unwarranted, saying anyone can look like a boogeyman when their opponent is, in his words, a Brazilian mannequin. He also suggested Pavlovich would need to go through Derrick Lewis before earning serious recognition in the division.
Teixeira, nicknamed Xicao, entered the fight ranked thirteenth in the heavyweight division at just 26 years old. The six-foot-seven Brazilian out of Team Lucas Mineiro carried an 9-1 record and brought genuine offensive output to the octagon, landing 5.02 significant strikes per minute at an eye-catching 64 percent accuracy with a reach of 83 inches. He was also a credible grappling threat, averaging 2.48 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Lewis, the man Hewitt says Pavlovich should be measured against, sits eighth in the heavyweight rankings at 41 years old. The Black Beast holds a 29-14 record and remains one of the most feared knockout artists in the division, fighting out of Main Street Boxing and Muay Thai. The six-foot-three American carries a 79-inch reach and lands 2.46 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Pavlovich's knockout of a ranked 26-year-old heavyweight will factor into divisional positioning at the top of the rankings
- Hewitt's callout of Lewis as a credible measuring stick puts the eighth-ranked contender back in the conversation
- The exchange highlights ongoing debate about the quality of opposition used to build heavyweight contenders
