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Pavlovich vs. Blaydes Headlines Saturday’s Fight Night Card

UFC Fight Night -Pavlovich vs. Blaydes Main Card Odds and Predictions

Following a couple of events on the road, the UFC returns to its Las Vegas Apex this weekend for another Fight Night event.  UFC Fight Night Sergei Pavlovich vs. Curtis Blaydes features a heavyweight clash in the headliner.  Additionally, there are other interesting bouts up and down the UFC betting card.  No titles will be at stake this weekend.  However, this weekend’s card is outstanding and will provide entertainment and strong betting opportunities.  But Pavlovich and Blaydes are the understandable focus of gamblers.

UFC Fight Night -Pavlovich vs. Blaydes Main Card  

Date:  Saturday, April 22, 2023, 7 p.m. ET

Location:  UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada

UFC TV Coverage:  ESPN+

UFC Fight Night Odds:   #3 Sergei Pavlovich +145 vs. #4 Curtis Blaydes -175

Pavlovich vs. Blaydes – Inside Track to the Heavyweight Title?

Consider that if the UFC were being run purely as a sporting organization, the winner of this fight would likely have a shot at heavyweight champion Jon Jones.  It is true that No.3-ranked Sergei Pavlovich and No.4-ranked Curtis Blaydes are technically below Stipe Miocic on the top online sportsbook rankings.  But Miocic also hasn’t won a fight since 2020.

Meanwhile, Pavlovich and Blaydes have been beating anyone in front of them for some time now.  Of the two, Russia’s Pavlovich has been more devastating for UFC bets.  Now that former champ Francis Mgannou has departed, Pavlovich almost certainly has the heaviest hands in the division.  Compared to most other combatants, he seems to destroy whatever he hits.

Overall, The Russian is 5-1 in the octagon and has not lost since his debut there in 2018.  All five of his UFC Odds wins have come via KO or TKO.  Pavlovich used his brick-like fists to finish Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis in his last two bouts.

Also, Blaydes is coming off a TKO win, albeit one caused by a knee injury to Tom Aspinall.  Previously, he stopped Chris Daukaus with strikes and stifled Jairzinho Rozenstruik for a decision.  ‘Razor’ hasn’t always been the most popular fighter with the fans and Dana White.  Cause by not always fighting in an entertaining way.

Overall, Blaydes is likely the best wrestler in the division.  Indeed, Blaydes seems capable of taking anyone down.  Although he is ruthless from the top with his ground-and-pound approach, he often takes a safety-first approach.  This has led him to big wins over Alexander Volkov and Rozenstruik and plenty of criticism.

To summarize his actual fighting ability, Blaydes is a complete fighter.  First, his wrestling skills are his bread and butter.  However, despite his dull reputation, he can knock opponents out on their feet.  Accordingly, that is what he did to former champ Junior dos Santos in 2020.

However, Blaydes’ big weakness is that his chin doesn’t always hold up to big shots.  Correlate that two of his three losses in the UFC knocked him out cold.  Additionally, he was also stunned badly by Mark Hunt in their 2018 bout.

In turn, that scouting report should be music to Pavlovich’s ears.  However, the Russian’s one loss came when Alistair Overeem took him down and hammered him from the top.  And that is something that Blaydes is more than capable of doing.

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On the whole, this fight should come down to whether Blaydes can get a takedown.  Also, seeing how aggressive he can be from the top is important.  If ‘Razor’ can put Pavlovich down and punish him, then he should win.

However, he’s in trouble if he can’t take him down early or is too conservative from the top.  Especially if he is allowing for a stand-up.  So too, he could be at an MMA betting disadvantage on his feet.  Consider that he’s been knocked out before, and Pavlovich only needs one clean shot.  Most important of all, Pavlovich has a record of devastation.

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