Was Sergei Pavlovich in the military?

Sergei Vladimirovich Pavlovich, born on May 13, 1992, in Orlovsky, a rural community near Rostov Oblast, Russia, is a Russian mixed martial artist competing in the heavyweight division of the UFC. Known for his devastating knockout power, Pavlovich began his professional MMA career with a victory against Alexander Derevyank at Fight Nights Global 29, marking the start of his ascent in the sport.

His UFC debut came against Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2, where he suffered his only loss to date. Despite this initial setback, Pavlovich bounced back with an impressive six-fight winning streak, securing victories over notable opponents such as Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa. Currently ranked third in the UFC heavyweight division, Pavlovich boasts an impressive record of 18 wins and just 2 losses (18-2-0).

After a loss against Tom Aspinall at UFC 296, Sergei Pavlovich is now gearing up to face Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night: Saudi Arabia on June 22, 2024.

Sergei Pavlovich Military Background

In his early life, Sergei Pavlovich had a background that included service in the Russian military. His journey into mixed martial arts was greatly influenced significantly by his time in the army. Pavlovich’s military tenure saw him training in combat sambo, a martial art developed and widely utilized by the Soviet Red Army. This discipline laid a robust foundation for his subsequent career in MMA, emphasizing grappling and striking techniques​

Pavlovich began his training in Greco-Roman wrestling at a young age and continued to develop his combat skills through his military service. After completing his army duties, he transitioned to being a professional mixed martial arts fighter.

Sergei Pavlovich Early Life and Career

From an early age, Sergei Pavlovich demonstrated a keen interest in combat sports, starting his training in Greco-Roman wrestling at the age of five under coach Alexander Fedorovich Aloyan​. This early exposure to wrestling laid a solid base for his future career in mixed martial arts.

During Pavlovich’s tenure in the Russian military, he further honed his combat skills, particularly in combat sambo, a martial art that was developed for the Soviet Red Army​​.

After completing his military service, Pavlovich transitioned to professional MMA, making his debut with a victory against Alexander Derevyanko at Fight Nights Global 29 in 2014​.