Pavlovich vs Cortes-Acosta Prediction
🔅 On August 23, at Fight Night 257 in Shanghai, Russian powerhouse Sergey Pavlovich will face off against promising American fighter Waldo Cortes-Acosta. For Pavlovich, this bout represents an opportunity to make a statement and re-establish himself among the heavyweight elite. Can he live up to the expectations?
H2H Stats Fights and Previous Results
Sergei Pavlovich Player Overview
This 32-year-old Russian heavyweight has built a reputation as a dangerous finisher. Sergei Pavlovich has secured 79% of his victories by knockout. He joined the UFC in 2018, but his debut fight against Alistair Overeem ended in a loss. However, Pavlovich then embarked on a six-fight winning streak, earning a well-deserved shot at the interim title against Tom Aspinall at UFC 295 in November 2023. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side in that bout, as Aspinall finished Sergei in the first round. This was followed by a disappointing decision loss to Alexander Volkov. Yet, Pavlovich is not one to give up easily. In February 2025, he confidently ended his losing streak with a points victory over Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Match Results: Sergei Pavlovich
Waldo Cortes-Acosta Player Overview
The 33-year-old American earned his chance in the UFC through Dana White's Contender Series in 2022. Cortes-Acosta's performances in the league are marked by consistency, even if they don't always dazzle. He boasts seven wins in eight fights, with most (six) going to the judges' decision. His only career loss came at the hands of Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
Despite perhaps not having the flashiest style, his pragmatic approach is paying dividends. Cortes-Acosta holds a strong sixth place in the heavyweight rankings and is just one victory away from breaking into the elite top three, which would pave the way for a title shot. In June 2025, Cortes-Acosta convincingly defeated Sergey Spivak.
Match Results: Waldo Cortes-Acosta
⭐ Editorial Prediction
Pavlovich, after a streak of setbacks, has demonstrated his ability to grapple and shown himself as a versatile fighter. He doesn't just rely on his knockout power to take down opponents. This means we might see either a quick knockout or a three-round bout featuring grappling elements. Sergey isn't fixated on one approach, understanding that it doesn't always work. Therefore, we don't expect much suspense in this fight. The Russian fighter, having learned from past mistakes, is expected to outclass the one-dimensional striker Acosta, who is simply not on his level.