Less than two weeks after his fight with Glover Teixeira, Sergei Pavlovich is already back in hard sparring. Training partner Valter Walker recounted how Pavlovich lifted and slammed him to the mat purely through brute force during a grueling six-round sparring session, leaving Walker momentarily shaken after hitting the floor head-first.
Sergei Pavlovich wasted little time returning to the gym after his bout with Glover Teixeira, and footage from a recent training session shows the Russian heavyweight looking every bit as dangerous as he does on fight night. Training partner Valter Walker described being lifted off the mat and slammed down purely through Pavlovich's raw physical strength during a six-round sparring session, saying he was left momentarily shaken after landing head-first.
Pavlovich, 34, holds a 20-3-0 record and is currently ranked third in the UFC heavyweight division. The six-foot-three Eagles MMA product carries an 84-inch reach and generates serious offensive output, averaging 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 44 percent accuracy. Despite his reputation as a knockout artist, the slam Walker described hints at a physical edge that extends well beyond the striking game.
Glover Teixeira, his most recent opponent, is a 46-year-old Brazilian veteran with a 33-9-0 record and an 76-inch reach. The six-foot-two orthodox fighter has remained productive across a long career, landing 3.73 significant strikes per minute while also contributing on the wrestling side with 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes. At this stage of his career, stepping in against a physically dominant heavyweight like Pavlovich represents a steep challenge.
Why it matters
- Pavlovich returning to hard sparring within two weeks signals he came through the Teixeira fight in good physical condition
- His willingness to mix in power-based grappling alongside striking adds a dimension that could complicate future opponents' gameplans
- At ranked third in the heavyweight division, any strong showing in training keeps Pavlovich in the conversation for a title opportunity
