Russian heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich will be ready to step in if something goes awry with this Saturday’s UFC 285 main event.
Over the weekend, UFC President Dana White told media outlets including Cageside Press that a back-up fighter would be on hand. “We’ve always got backups for those kind of fights,” said White, who remained mum on who had the job. “I’m not going to say.”
ESPN, the UFC’s official broadcaster, was willing to say however. Citing the heavyweight’s manager, they revealed the news that Pavlovich would weigh-in this Friday ahead of UFC 285, just in case.
Pavlovich (17-1) has won five straight fights, and has not suffered a loss since his promotional debut against Alistair Overeem in 2018. Most recently, he’s stopped both Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa.
The Russian currently has a fight booked, as he’ll face Curtis Blaydes atop the UFC’s April 22 Fight Night event. Should Pavlovich’s services be required this weekend, however, that is likely to change.
Jon Jones returns from three years away atop UFC 285, where he takes on Ciryl Gane for the belt vacated by Francis Ngannou earlier this year. The fight also serves as Jones’ debut in the heavyweight division. The following match-ups have been reported for the card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 4, 2023:
- Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane — for the vacant UFC heavyweight championship
- Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Alexa Grasso — for the UFC women’s flyweight championship
- Geoff Neal vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
- Mateusz Gamrot vs. Jalin Turner
- Bo Nickal vs. Jamie Pickett
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Trevin Jones
- Derek Brunson vs. Dricus du Plessis
- Viviane Araújo vs. Amanda Ribas
- Julian Marquez vs. Marc-André Barriault
- Ian Garry vs. Song Kenan
- Cameron Saaiman vs. Leomana Martinez
- Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci
- Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Farid Basharat
- Esteban Ribovics vs. Loik Radzhabov
