Sergei Pavlovich looked like the heavyweight boogeyman between April 2019 and April 2023 when he scored six straight first round finishes including finishes over the likes of Curtis Blaydes ...

MMA Latino America first reported that former interim title challenger Sergei Pavlovich (19-3) will be taking on Waldo Cortes-Acosta (14-1).

As per a report by MMA Latino America on X, No. 4-ranked heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich will take on Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC Shanghai on August 23.

Heavyweights Sergei Pavlovich and Waldo Cortes-Acosta are expected to meet at the upcoming UFC Shanghai card scheduled on Aug. 23 in China.

Jones hadn’t been “undisputed” for 19 months, after Aspinall’s knockout of Sergei Pavlovich in late 2023 made him the interim titleholder.

The ongoing saga around a heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall may finally be nearing its conclusion.

Don’t count out Sergei Pavlovich either. Though currently booked for a clash with Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC Shanghai in August, Pavlovich remains one of the most feared punchers in the division.

UFC Shanghai is scheduled for Aug. 23. A heavyweight matchup between No. 3 Sergei Pavlovich and No. 6 Waldo Cortes-Acosta is among the other scheduled bouts.

With Jones vs Miocic delayed by a year, Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped up in November 2023, fighting for the interim belt.