Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamal Hill is planning a debut at heavyweight and has called out Sergei Pavlovich. Hill acknowledged he has put on weight ahead of the move up in class.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamal Hill is setting his sights on a move to heavyweight, publicly calling out ranked contender Sergei Pavlovich as his preferred first opponent at the higher weight class. Hill has confirmed he has been putting on weight in preparation for the jump up in division.
Pavlovich enters that conversation as one of the most dangerous strikers in the heavyweight rankings, currently sitting third in the division at 34 years old. The Russian southpaw, who trains out of Eagles MMA, carries a professional record of 20-3 and possesses a physically imposing frame — standing six-foot-three with an extraordinary 84-inch reach. His output backs up his reputation: Pavlovich lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 44 percent accuracy, a combination that has made him a consistent finishing threat at 265 pounds.
Hill, a former 205-pound champion, is making the transition after acknowledging a natural weight gain that has pushed him toward the heavier class. No record or ranking data for Hill at heavyweight is yet established, as the move would mark his debut in the division.
Why it matters
- A win over Pavlovich, the third-ranked heavyweight, would immediately position Hill as a title contender in his very first fight at 265 pounds.
- Pavlovich's elite striking volume and reach advantage present a genuine test of Hill's power and durability at the new weight.
- The matchup pits two heavy-handed fighters against each other, raising the stakes for an already talent-rich heavyweight division.
