Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamal Hill has put on significant weight and is targeting a debut in the heavyweight division. Hill has called out Sergei Pavlovich as his desired opponent for the move up.
Jamal Hill is setting his sights on the heavyweight division, calling out ranked contender Sergei Pavlovich as his preferred opponent for what would be his debut at 265 pounds.
Hill, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, has reportedly added significant weight and is ready to make the jump from 205 pounds. The move would represent a substantial shift in division for a fighter who held gold at light heavyweight, and Hill has been direct about who he wants to welcome him to the heavier weight class.
Standing across from him, should the fight come together, would be Pavlovich, one of the most dangerous strikers in the heavyweight division. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA, carries a professional record of 20-3 and is currently ranked third in the UFC heavyweight rankings. At six-foot-three with a reach of 84 inches, Pavlovich brings elite physicality to every matchup. He lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 44 percent accuracy, numbers that reflect his reputation as a finishing threat rather than a volume puncher.
Why it matters
- A win over a top-three heavyweight would immediately establish Hill as a serious contender in his new division.
- Pavlovich's knockout power against Hill's unproven durability at heavyweight creates a compelling stylistic question.
- The light heavyweight title picture would also shift depending on whether Hill formally vacates or remains tied to that division.
Hill's callout puts pressure on the UFC matchmakers to consider a fight that would draw significant attention given his championship pedigree. Whether the promotion moves to book the bout remains to be seen, but Hill has made his intentions clear.
