Sergei Pavlovich scored his seventh UFC knockout, finishing Jailton Almeida in 39 seconds at UFC Macau. Pavlovich called for a title fight or number-one contender bout, stating he wants to face the winner of Ciryl Gane versus Tom Aspinall.
Sergei Pavlovich delivered a stunning first-round finish at UFC Macau on May 30, 2026, stopping Jailton Almeida in just 39 seconds to secure his seventh UFC knockout victory.
Pavlovich has now made a direct case for a heavyweight title shot, stating he wants to fight the winner of the upcoming bout between Ciryl Gane and champion Tom Aspinall.
Almeida, known as "Malhadinho," entered the contest ranked fifth in the heavyweight division with a record of 22-5. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Galpao da Luta stood six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach and brought elite grappling credentials to the matchup, averaging 5.64 takedowns per 15 minutes. The finish came before he could put any of that to use.
Gane, ranked second in the division at 14-2, fights out of MMA Factory in France. The 36-year-old stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach and averages 5.29 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the division's sharpest technical strikers.
Tom Aspinall, the reigning heavyweight champion, holds a record of 15-3 and is ranked sixth pound-for-pound. The 33-year-old Englishman from Team Kaobon stands six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach and lands an imposing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at 67 percent accuracy, also adding 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Pavlovich's 39-second finish strengthens his case as the division's most dangerous knockout threat and puts him firmly in contender conversations.
- A Gane vs. Aspinall outcome will determine who Pavlovich faces, with the number-one contender spot likely on the line.
- Almeida's loss drops the Brazilian grappler from the top-five conversation after a fight that never reached the ground.
