Ali Akbar Rosady
As UFC Macau approaches, Brazilian heavyweight Tallison Teixeira, known as "Xicao," stands at a pivotal juncture in his burgeoning career. While not actively pursuing an immediate shot at the UFC heavyweight championship, a victory over the formidable, top-ranked Sergei Pavlovich this weekend is widely expected to accelerate his ascent through the division’s challenging ranks. Teixeira has openly expressed an interest in facing another prominent Russian talent, Alexander Volkov, following his bout with Pavlovich, humorously noting the prospect of "two Russians in a row."
Teixeira’s journey in the UFC has been marked by both explosive finishes and a steep learning curve. In July 2025, when he was still undefeated in his professional mixed martial arts career and held a perfect 1-0 record in the UFC, having spectacularly dispatched Justin Tafa via knockout in a mere 35 seconds, Teixeira conveyed a confident outlook regarding a potential clash with Pavlovich. During a conversation with Pavlovich’s teammate Valter Walker on the Sexto Round podcast, Teixeira stated his belief in securing a victory if matched against the Russian powerhouse. A year later, having experienced the highs and lows of the elite heavyweight division – including a 35-second knockout loss to veteran Derrick Lewis and a subsequent decision win over former title challenger Tai Tuivasa – Teixeira now has the opportunity to validate his earlier confidence against Pavlovich.
Reflecting on his perspective, Teixeira articulated a more measured understanding of the challenge ahead. "I see it in a more grounded way now," Teixeira informed MMA Fighting. "I still see him as a really tough guy. Back then I said that ‘if I’m well prepared [I could beat him]’ because I knew he was a very difficult opponent [laughs]. But not much has changed for me. I still see him as a very dangerous guy, someone I need to be extremely well prepared to fight, but I think he’s lost a bit of that momentum and aggression he used to have, and I think that can work in my favor."
Sergei Pavlovich (18-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), currently ranked No. 3 in the UFC heavyweight division, entered this period following a unanimous decision victory over Jairzinho Rozenstruik. This win represented a rebound for Pavlovich, who had previously suffered back-to-back losses to current interim champion Tom Aspinall and top contender Alexander Volkov. Following the Rozenstruik fight, Pavlovich secured another decision victory against Waldo Cortes-Acosta. This recent streak of three straight decision wins stands in stark contrast to Pavlovich’s earlier career trajectory, where he amassed a fearsome record of six consecutive first-round knockouts between 2019 and 2023, establishing himself as one of the division’s most terrifying finishers.
Related News :
- UFC 324 Marks Paramount+ Debut with Gaethje-Pimblett Interim Title Bout and Nunes’ Historic Return
- UFC Fight Night Vancouver: De Ridder and Allen Headline Crucial Middleweight Showdown with Title Implications
- Giants Implement Urgent Dialogue with Quarterback Jaxson Dart Regarding Sustained Playing Style
- Town Hall Q&A with PFL’s John Martin LIVE now
- UFC White House Card Features Topuria as Substantial Favorite, Pereira Aims for Historic Third Title
Teixeira acknowledges Pavlovich’s enduring danger but suggests a shift in the Russian’s fighting approach. "Of course, when it’s time for our fight, he might go crazy like he used to, come forward recklessly and throw everything into that one punch and try to finish the fight right away," Teixeira stated. "It’s a very unpredictable matchup. I trained for that possibility, but I also trained in case he takes a more measured approach, slows the fight down, and tries to win on points. I truly believe I’m very well prepared."
Despite Pavlovich’s reputation for quick finishes, Teixeira envisions a different outcome for their contest. "I see myself getting a finish," he added. "Maybe not in the first round, but I want to hurt him little by little, touching him up, damaging him, breaking that aura even more. But I do see a finish." Teixeira’s professional record stands at 5-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC, with four of his five victories coming by knockout. A definitive finish over a top-ranked opponent like Pavlovich would undoubtedly elevate the Brazilian into the upper echelons of the heavyweight division, likely placing him within the top 10.
However, Teixeira maintains a pragmatic view on his title aspirations. "Even if I beat him, I don’t think I’d immediately be in the title conversation," Teixeira admitted. "Honestly, I don’t even want that yet. I think I still need one or two more fights before getting into that discussion. But it would put me in the top 5, maybe top 3." This strategic patience reflects a fighter committed to developing fully before challenging for the ultimate prize.
The current landscape of the UFC heavyweight division is indeed complex. With Alex Pereira currently slated to battle Ciryl Gane for an interim belt, and former interim champion Tom Aspinall recovering from a serious eye injury, the path to a undisputed title shot remains somewhat ambiguous. This fluid situation provides an opportunity for rising contenders like "Xicao" to strategically position themselves.
Against this backdrop, Teixeira has identified Alexander Volkov (38-10 MMA, 12-4 UFC), currently ranked No. 5, as an ideal subsequent opponent should he emerge victorious against Pavlovich. "Maybe a fight with Volkov next would make sense," Teixeira mused. "Two Russians in a row? That would be funny." Volkov, a veteran of the heavyweight division, has been victorious in six of his past seven octagon appearances, with his sole recent setback being a controversial split decision loss to Ciryl Gane. He is coming off decision wins over Jailton Almeida and Waldo Cortes-Acosta, fights that garnered some criticism from fans for their pacing and lack of significant action.
Intriguingly, Teixeira believes a matchup with Volkov could be stylistically more favorable than his impending clash with Pavlovich. "I actually think that fight would be easier than the Sergei fight," Teixeira contended. "I really believe that. Maybe because Volkov is such a big guy, I think I’d have an easier time working against someone like that because it’s more similar to my style. And I’m also very good at closing the distance. I was even training with one of Plinio’s guys who’s bigger than me." Teixeira’s professional assessment highlights his confidence in navigating the reach and size advantage typically held by taller heavyweights. "If you know how to close the distance and manage it well, even if you’re shorter and have less reach, it can work. So I don’t think fighting Volkov would be much different. Obviously, Volkov is tough and dangerous, but comparatively speaking, I think Sergei brings more risk than Volkov does."
For his crucial encounter in Macau, Teixeira has honed his skills alongside some of the sport’s most decorated figures: current light heavyweight champion Alex "Poatan" Pereira and former light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira, training at their facility in Danbury. This high-level training environment has been instrumental not only in his preparation for Pavlovich but also in his overall evolution as a mixed martial artist.
Teixeira elaborated on the profound impact of his training partners. "The most dangerous fight is always the next one and this time is no different," Teixeira said. "It was great coming here to train with Alex because he’s such an experienced guy with so many striking fights under his belt. Every day you learn something from him. And Glover gave me a lot of great insight on the grappling side. Also in the striking, movement and everything, especially cage work."
He also shed light on his ongoing development in grappling, acknowledging the transition from traditional jiu-jitsu to its application in MMA. "I was actually talking to Glover about this. I don’t have the same jiu-jitsu I used to have anymore, but I also don’t yet have that truly effective MMA jiu-jitsu. I’m somewhere in the middle right now. I’m still evolving toward having really effective jiu-jitsu for MMA, but that’s something that takes time to develop." Teixeira particularly praised Glover Teixeira’s coaching philosophy. "And when Glover trains with us, the pressure he puts on is insane. One thing I really like about him is that he doesn’t want you to copy his style. He looks at what you already do well, what you need to improve, and then adds details to sharpen your own game. I think that’s really interesting. He doesn’t want you to fight exactly the way he fought."
Addressing his previous performance, particularly the 15-minute decision victory over Tai Tuivasa, Teixeira humorously anticipated criticism regarding his conditioning. "A lot of people are going to say it’s my cardio that needs the most improvement after his latest UFC fight," he joked. However, he provided a detailed explanation for his fatigue during that challenging bout in Sydney. "I think it was much more about the adrenaline draining me that night," Teixeira clarified. "Before the fight, I even told my coach, ‘I think I should stop warming up because my heart is racing too much. My gas tank is already going away’ [laughs]. Time zone changes, coming off a loss, fighting in the other guy’s hometown, there’s extra pressure. And Tuivasa is a tough guy. He’s hard to knock out. He’s got an iron chin. Even in the last second of a round he still wants to stand there and trade punches with you. I knew it was going to be a tough fight, and it was, but I saw details I can improve on."
As Tallison Teixeira prepares to step into the octagon against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Macau, the stakes are exceptionally high. A victory would not only signify a major step forward in the unpredictable heavyweight division but also set the stage for a strategically planned future, potentially involving another high-profile Russian contender in Alexander Volkov, as "Xicao" meticulously carves his path towards the sport’s pinnacle.
💬 Tinggalkan Komentar dengan Facebook
Author Profile
Latest entries
MMAMay 29, 2026Tallison Teixeira Charts Heavyweight Trajectory, Eyeing Alexander Volkov After Critical Sergei Pavlovich Encounter.
MMAMay 29, 2026Namsrai Batbayar Secures UFC Contract with Controversial Knee Knockout at Road to UFC Final
MMAMay 29, 2026Cain Velasquez Weighs Octagon Return, Prioritizing Substantial Financial Remuneration Over Legacy.
MMAMay 29, 2026UFC Macau Weigh-Ins Conclude: Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo Cleared for Bantamweight Headliner
rifan muazin
Jonas Leo
arthur roy sitompul
Anshari Taslim