Sergei Pavlovich's first-round knockout at UFC Macao brought his career total of first-round UFC knockouts to seven, placing him in a group that includes Francis Ngannou, Andrei Arlovski, Cain Velasquez, Anderson Silva, and Derrick Lewis. Vitor Belfort leads the all-time list with eleven first-round knockouts in the UFC, followed by Anthony Johnson with nine and Michal Oleksiejczuk with eight.
Sergei Pavlovich cemented his place among the most prolific first-round finishers in UFC history with a knockout at UFC Macao, bringing his career total of first-round UFC knockouts to seven and landing him in rare company at the heavyweight and pound-for-pound levels.
The finish places Pavlovich alongside an elite group that includes Francis Ngannou, Andrei Arlovski, Cain Velasquez, Anderson Silva, and Derrick Lewis — all of whom share seven first-round knockouts in the UFC. Above that tier sit Michal Oleksiejczuk with eight, Anthony Johnson with nine, and Vitor Belfort at the top of the all-time list with eleven.
Vitor Belfort, now 49 years old and carrying a professional record of 26-14, built his legacy as one of the most explosive starters in UFC history. Known as "The Phenom," the Brazilian southpaw compiled his record-setting eleven first-round knockouts across multiple weight classes over a career spanning decades.
Michal Oleksiejczuk, the 31-year-old Polish southpaw nicknamed "Hussar," holds eight first-round UFC knockouts and sits directly ahead of Pavlovich on the list. Competing out of Akademia Sportow Walki Wilanow, Oleksiejczuk lands 5.85 significant strikes per minute at a 53 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the more active volume strikers among light heavyweights.
Cain Velasquez, the 43-year-old former heavyweight champion from the United States, is among those tied with Pavlovich at seven. The American Kickboxing Academy product finished with a 14-3 record and was as dangerous on the feet as on the mat, averaging 5.13 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside his finishing power.
Why it matters
- Pavlovich now sits eighth on the UFC all-time first-round knockout list, trailing only Oleksiejczuk, Anthony Johnson, and Belfort
- His placement alongside Ngannou, Silva, and Velasquez underscores the heavyweight division's history of explosive early finishes
- Only three first-round knockouts separate Pavlovich from Belfort's all-time record of eleven
