Teddy Atlas has given his take on a potential matchup between Jon Jones and Sergei Pavlovich.
Pavlovich, who is currently ranked second in the heavyweight category, won his last fight against Curtis Blaydes with a first-round technical knockout at UFC Vegas 71.
Atlas was impressed with Pavlovich’s performance and believes that he has the potential to challenge Jones.
“I’d love to see him with Jon Jones. That would be very interesting. I’d love to see that.
“He’s got the physical strength and the ability, and it seems like he’s developed enough technique to make it interesting in the striking part of it with Jones.
“And he’s got one other thing that you can recognize that I think is the most important part: he’s mentally tough enough to make it interesting, where Gane…just wasn’t mentally tough enough,” Atlas
Jones, who had previously won the UFC light heavyweight title twice, beat Ciryl Gane in just one round to secure the heavyweight championship title.
Thereafter, talk turned to a fight between Jones and Stipe Miocic. The latter, though, has not fought since 2021, which has led to calls for Pavlovich to step up.
And Pavlovich is adamant that he is willing to wait for the winner of Jones vs. Miocic.
“I’ll rest. I’ll eat. I’ll sleep. I’ll rest some more. I’ll wait,” Pavlovich