Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamal Hill has put on weight and is targeting a move to the heavyweight division. Hill has expressed interest in a fight with Sergei Pavlovich for his heavyweight debut.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamal Hill has set his sights on the heavyweight division, publicly calling out ranked contender Sergei Pavlovich as his desired first opponent at 265 pounds.
Hill, a former 205-pound titleholder, has reportedly added significant mass and now believes he can compete at heavyweight. His callout of Pavlovich signals ambition from the jump — rather than easing into the division against a lower-ranked opponent, Hill is targeting one of the most dangerous strikers in the world.
Pavlovich sits at number three in the UFC heavyweight rankings and brings a formidable résumé to any potential matchup. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA, carries a professional record of 20-3 and is built for the heavyweight frame at six-foot-three with an extraordinary 84-inch reach. He averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 44 percent accuracy, and his submission attempts are essentially nonexistent — Pavlovich is a pure striker who finishes fights on the feet.
Why it matters
- Hill moving up would test whether his light heavyweight credentials translate to the sport's premier weight class
- Pavlovich is a top-three heavyweight contender, meaning a win for either man carries serious title implications
- Both fighters are known for their striking, setting up a potential stand-and-bang encounter between a southpaw power puncher in Pavlovich and a long, rangy former champion in Hill
- Hill's callout raises the profile of his heavyweight debut immediately, bypassing any gradual build at 265 pounds
