No. 2 ranked UFC heavyweight fighter Russian Sergei Pavlovich in an interview with Telecomasia.net talked about his progress in recent years.
I've always wrestled just fine even in the days of Fight Nights. I always strived for spectacular fights and knockouts. I could always wrestle normally, but I didn't bet much on it. I had another task. I understand that it will always be more spectacular if a big guy tries to knock out his opponent. And in the UFC you can get a $50,000 bonus.
“I've never had a problem with wrestling, but I've also improved it. I can say that with confidence. Now and then - it's a different level of everything, both in striking technique, and in wrestling.
I don't aim to finish a sparring session with a painful or choke submission. That's not my job. You can wrestle, you can punch, you can do a somersault. You can do anything. But you need a plan that works for you. We're at a level of MMA where you have to think through your tactics for the fight. What if your opponent turns out to be tougher than you'd thought, the plan doesn't work, so you need another one. And it may not work either, so you need a third plan. So you can not dissipate your attention to separate aspects of it," Pavlovich said.
