Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamal Hill is planning a move to heavyweight and has called out Sergei Pavlovich as his desired opponent for his debut in the division. Hill acknowledged he has put on some additional weight ahead of the transition.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamal Hill has set his sights on the heavyweight division, calling out third-ranked contender Sergei Pavlovich as the man he wants to welcome him to the new weight class.
Hill, who previously held the 205-pound title, confirmed he has been adding weight in preparation for the move and specifically named Pavlovich as his preferred opponent for a heavyweight debut. The callout signals an ambitious step up for the former champion, who would be entering one of the most physically imposing divisions in the sport.
Pavlovich enters any conversation as a formidable obstacle. The 34-year-old Russian carries a 20-3 record and currently sits third in the UFC heavyweight rankings. Fighting out of Eagles MMA, the southpaw stands six-foot-three with a remarkable 84-inch reach and lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute — a rate that reflects his reputation as one of the division's most dangerous finishers. His striking accuracy sits at 44 percent, and he poses virtually no grappling threat offensively, averaging fewer than half a takedown per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A win over a top-three heavyweight contender would immediately establish Hill as a serious presence in the division
- Pavlovich's elite striking output against Hill's unproven heavyweight chin creates a compelling stylistic question
- The bout would carry divisional ranking implications at 265 pounds for whoever earns the victory
