Sergei Pavlovich should be next in line for the UFC heavyweight title, and the case for him is built on work already done in the division. His 2023 surge was brutal and efficient: a 54-second knockout of Tai Tuivasa, then a finish of Curtis Blaydes in under four minutes. That is the kind of run that usually forces a title conversation.
The timing matters because the debate has sharpened after Alex Pereira’s win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 335, his second appearance above 205 pounds. Pereira brings something the UFC cannot ignore: star power, crossover appeal and pay-per-view value. But Pavlovich has the stronger merit-based résumé, and his own blunt view leaves little room for interpretation. “Give him the shot,” he said.
Pavlovich also has the kind of record that makes the argument easy to follow. In November 2023, he lost to Tom Aspinall, but the loss did not erase the two ranked heavyweight finishes that put him in position to be discussed at all. That is the core of the dispute: one fighter has the cleaner path through the division, while the other has the bigger commercial profile. The UFC has often leaned toward narratives that sell, but the heavyweight belt should not be used as a promotional shortcut for building a superstar.
That leaves the next move in the division hanging on what matters most to the UFC. Pavlovich could reasonably secure a title shot with one more win over a top-five opponent, but no booking is confirmed. If the company chooses merit, his case is already there. If it chooses marketability, the division will once again be telling fighters that rankings matter less than drawing power.
