Sergei Pavlovich vs Curtis Blaydes 4/22/23 – On Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes will face off in a men’s Heavyweight Division battle as part of UFC Fight Night 222’s main event. Both fighters are set to exchange blows inside of the octagon during this highly-anticipated showdown. Blaydes hopes to build on his impressive career record against an opponent with just one defeat so far in his fight career. UFC betting odds have now opened for this significant battle between top fighters. This fight could put its winner on track to challenge Jon Jones for the heavyweight championship.
Sergei Pavlovich vs Curtis Blaydes
Date & Time: Saturday, April 22, 2022 at 7:00 PM ET
Location: UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
TV: ESPN+
Sergei Pavlovich vs Curtis Blaydes 4/22/23 Betting Odds
Pavlovich
Moneyline: +150
Blaydes
Moneyline: -175
Sergei Pavlovich vs Curtis Blaydes Analysis
Sergei Pavlovich has not lost since making his octagon debut in 2018; all five victories have come via knockout or submission, with Pavlovich using his brick-like fists to finish Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis during recent fights. Sergei Pavlovich has been on a remarkable run, winning five fights by knockout within the first round. Three of his five wins earned him performance of the night honors and included victories over Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa.
Blaydes must tread lightly against Pavlovich’s attacks in the opening round, without becoming overly cautious and succumbing to his aggression. He has enjoyed three consecutive wins. Blaydes has only lost to two fighters in his MMA career – both to Francis Ngannou (twice) and Derrick Lewis.
Pavlovich will draw inspiration from Lewis’s finish against Blaydes back in 2021, knowing that Blaydes likes to shoot low which could set up an unexpected shot from Pavlovich. Pavlovich has only shown us his new version in one other bout since 2017 when he went the distance against Mikhail Mokhnatkin and took him all the way.
Curtis Blaydes also known as ‘Razor’, recently earned his victory through TKO victory against Tom Aspinall due to an accidental knee injury sustained during sparring, though prior to that he stopped Chris Daukaus with strikes and defeated Jairzinho Rozenstruik via decision. Blaydes’ endurance and cardio will prove instrumental in leading Pavlovich into deeper waters and nullifying any initial surges of energy he may display. As the fight progresses, Blaydes displays clear advantages in wrestling and grappling, his ability to take down opponents quickly and control them on the ground could prove pivotal in winning this round.
Pavlovich has proven his takedown defense capabilities before, but Blaydes’ relentless wrestling may prove too much for him to handle. Curtis Blaydes may hold an edge in this heavyweight duel due to his superior physical abilities. By employing his wrestling and ground control abilities effectively, he could neutralize Pavlovich’s striking and secure either a decision win or even late stoppage victory.
Blaydes’ actual fighting skills are truly varied. His wrestling is his forte, yet despite having an underwhelming reputation he can take out opponents on the feet like former champ Junior dos Santos in 2020. His main weakness, unfortunately, lies in his chin’s inability to withstand major strikes; two of his three UFC losses saw him get knocked out cold while Mark Hunt stunned him badly during their 2018 bout. In theory, that should have come as music to Pavlovich’s ears; however, his sole loss came when Alistair Overeem took him down and pummeled from above – something Blaydes is more than capable of doing.
Sergei Pavlovich vs Curtis Blaydes Stats
| Pavlovich | Blaydes | |
| Wins/Losses/Draws | 17-1-0 | 17-3-0 (1 NC) |
| Average Fight Time | 2:15 | 9:37 |
| Height | 6′ 3″ | 6′ 4″ |
| Weight | 257 lbs. | 265 lbs. |
| Reach | 84″ | 80″ |
| Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| Strikes Landed per Min. | 8.07 | 3.54 |
| Striking Accuracy | 51% | 51% |
| Strikes Absorbed per Min. | 4.30 | 1.70 |
| Defense | 48% | 59% |
| Takedowns Average/15 min. | 0.00 | 6.05 |
| Takedown Accuracy | 0% | 53% |
| Takedown Defense | 66% | 33% |
| Submission Average/15 min. | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Sergei Pavlovich vs Curtis Blaydes Free Pick
If Pavlovich can keep the fight standing and connect with powerful strikes to keep Blaydes from moving around too much during combat, he could potentially end it quickly. Curtis Blaydes sees no other option but to attempt and take Pavlovich down, using punches as his only means to defeat him. He’s proven his bravery time after time, so the UFC betting experts expect the same on Saturday.
Free Pick: Curtis Blaydes -175
