The sixth number of the UFC heavyweight ranking Alexander Volkov recalled how his sparring sessions with Sergei Pavlovich went. The two will fight on June 22 at the tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Volkov told Sport-Express:
When he hit, it was always very hard. His hits are hard and precise. Every punch almost knocked me down. It was very difficult. I didn't win a single round. So it's gonna be a tough fight for me. I could never hit him. Or at least, when I did, he didn't seem to feel it. It looked like I wasn't landing hits.
Pavlovich last fought against Tom Aspinall in November 2023 at UFC 295. In that fight, Sergei suffered a knockout defeat in the first round. He has 18 wins and two losses on his record.
Volkov last stepped into the octagon against Tai Tuivasa in September 2023 at UFC 293. That fight, which was stopped in the second round, ended in Alexander's favor by submission. He has 37 wins and 10 losses on his record.