The best and worst from UFC Fight Night 162: Maia vs. Askren

Modified Jul 23, 2022 00:52 GMT

Demian Maia defeated Ben Askren in today's main event

#2 Best: Pavlovich makes his mark again

Sergei Pavlovich impressed again in his win over Maurice Greene

Russian Heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich came into the UFC a year ago with plenty of fanfare; he’d gone 12-0 on the Russian regional scene and appeared to have everything it took to succeed in the UFC, with incredibly heavy hands coupled with a lot of speed and athleticism.

Unfortunately, he was matched far too highly for his UFC debut – against title contender Alistair Overeem – and succumbed to a first round TKO loss.

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Since then though, while he might’ve been flying under the radar a little, Pavlovich has definitely regained any lustre he might’ve lost in the Overeem fight. The Russian destroyed Marcelo Golm in February and today, he took just over two minutes to turn the lights out on Maurice Greene, stopping him with a violent combination of punches.

Sure, Greene – and Golm – aren’t top calibre opponents, but you can only finish whoever’s in front of you and Pavlovich did that today in impressive fashion.

Overeem might’ve been a step too far for him as a debutant, but with three Octagon appearances now in the books it feels like it’s time for a push up the card for the Russian. At the very least, he should be on the main card for his next appearance.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram