Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamal Hill is preparing to make his debut at heavyweight and has called out Sergei Pavlovich as his desired opponent for the move.
Jamal Hill is setting his sights on a new weight class, announcing plans to compete at heavyweight and calling out ranked contender Sergei Pavlovich as his preferred first opponent at 265 pounds.
Hill, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, is making a bold move by stepping up from 205 pounds to the sport's heaviest division. The callout signals that Hill is not looking to ease into the transition — he wants to be tested immediately against elite-level competition.
Pavlovich, 34, represents exactly that kind of test. The Russian knockout artist out of Eagles MMA holds a 20-3-0 record and sits at number three in the UFC heavyweight rankings. Standing six-foot-three with an extraordinary 84-inch reach, Pavlovich is one of the most dangerous strikers in the division. He lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 44 percent accuracy, and his submission attempts are virtually nonexistent, meaning his game plan is straightforward and devastating: he finishes fights on the feet.
Why it matters
- A win over a top-three heavyweight would immediately legitimize Hill as a serious force in the new division
- Pavlovich's elite striking versus Hill's championship pedigree makes for a compelling stylistic matchup
- The bout, if made, could shake up the heavyweight rankings and put the winner in title contention
