Sergey Pavlovich knocks out Ciryl Gane in 39 seconds at UFC Macau

Sergey Pavlovich delivered a stunning first-round knockout of Ciryl Gane just 39 seconds into their heavyweight bout at UFC Macau, sending a clear message to the division's title picture.

Gane, known as "Bon Gamin," entered the fight ranked second in the heavyweight division and remains one of the most technically refined strikers in the sport. The 36-year-old Frenchman trains out of MMA Factory and carries a record of 14-2. Standing six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach, Gane had built his reputation on high-volume, accurate output — landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 61 percent, elite numbers for the heavyweight class. Saturday's result snapped that momentum abruptly.

Pavlovich, fighting out of Russia, wasted no time in the cage and added to what is now a remarkable run of finishes inside the UFC. With seven knockouts in the promotion, he holds the record for the most stoppages by a Russian fighter in UFC history. Following the finish, Pavlovich made his intentions clear, calling for either a title shot or a title eliminator and positioning himself as next in line at heavyweight.

Why it matters

• A 39-second finish of the No. 2 ranked heavyweight is one of the most emphatic results in recent divisional history and dramatically reshapes the contender landscape.
• Pavlovich's seven UFC knockouts set a new benchmark for Russian fighters in the promotion, underlining his status as one of the division's most dangerous finishers.
• Gane, at 14-2, drops his second career loss and may need to rebuild his contender standing, while Pavlovich positions himself directly in the title conversation.
• Pavlovich specifically named the winner of a Gane versus Pereira matchup as a potential opponent, though his call for a fight has not received an official response.