Following his vicious KO loss to Tom Aspinall in 2023, #3 ranked Sergei Pavlovich confirms on social media that his recovery ‘reboot is complete’.
Whilst Pavlovich might have come up short against Aspinall in search of UFC heavyweight interim glory in late 2023, many fans still expect the Russian juggernaut to eventually become world champion.
The 18-2 titan took to social media this week, posting the first clips of him back in training since the devastating loss and teasing that a return to the octagon is coming ‘soon’ as the division stalls.
Pavlovich posts ‘reboot is complete’ following KO loss
Sergei Pavlovich is now back in the gym, a scary thought for heavyweights populating the UFC’s biggest division, three months after suffering a brutal first-round KO loss to interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall at UFC 295 last November.
The Eagles MMA Academy fighter shared that he’s “never been so motivated to come back” and get back into the win column, having previously been on a six-fight win streak before running into Aspinall.
“I will be back in my best shape” he posted, adding in a later message that the “Reboot is complete” from the damage sustained in the KO and calling on the UFC, “Let’s get to work.”
The Russian is currently ranked #3 in the world and with a unification fight between Jones and Aspinall looking more distant by the day, who could Pavlovich face in his return?
According to his fanbase, there are two fighters who should be considered as his next potential opponents: #2 ranked Ciryl Gane and #7 ranked Jailton Almeida.
Whilst Almeida is already booked against Curtis Blaydes for UFC 299, there is a chance that should Almeida defeat Blaydes with ease, the UFC could turn him around for UFC 301 in Brazil.
Gane is arguably the more likely opponent out of the two since he currently does not have his next fight scheduled, the Frenchman is on a one-fight win streak after finishing Serghei Spivac in round 2 of their November 2023 clash.