UFC Shanghai Showdown: Sergei Pavlovich and Waldo Cortes-Acosta Clash – Odds, Schedule, and Forecast
The UFC Heavyweight division is back in action with a highly anticipated fight between two top-ranked contenders, Sergei Pavlovich and Waldo Cortes-Acosta. The bout is scheduled to take place on August 23, 2025, at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, China, and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Sergei Pavlovich, currently ranked #3 in the UFC Heavyweight Rankings, is a Russian powerhouse with a background in Greco-Roman wrestling, Combat Sambo, and Combat Kung Fu. He began his professional MMA career in 2014 and quickly established himself as a formidable opponent, dominating Fight Nights Global with a 12-fight winning streak before transitioning to the UFC. Pavlovich is known for his significant reach advantage and knockout power, having won six of his UFC fights by KO/TKO.
However, Pavlovich's journey hasn't been without setbacks. He suffered a loss to Tom Aspinall via KO in just 69 seconds, ending his six-fight winning streak and his bid for the interim UFC Heavyweight title. He rebounded from this loss with a unanimous decision win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik in February 2025, showcasing his newly acquired wrestling skills, landing two takedowns in the process.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta, ranked #6 in the UFC Heavyweight Rankings, brings a mix of athleticism and technical boxing skill to the fight. Originating from a sports background in baseball and boxing, Cortes-Acosta transitioned to MMA in his mid-20s and earned his UFC contract via a first-round TKO on Dana White’s Contender Series. He has a record of 14-1, with his only loss against Marcos Rogerio de Lima in April 2023. Despite landing 20+ significant strikes more than his opponent, Cortes-Acosta lost to de Lima via unanimous decision. However, he has significantly improved his wrestling skills over the last two years, landing three takedowns against Robelis Despaigne in a 2024 fight.
In their upcoming fight, Cortes-Acosta will aim to break into the very elite by defeating a top-three ranked opponent. Many analysts predict that this matchup will be a classic heavyweight showdown between Pavlovich’s raw power, wrestling base, and combat sambo skills versus Cortes-Acosta’s boxing technicality and athleticism. If Cortes-Acosta wins, it will be his 6th straight win.
The fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Waldo Cortes-Acosta is set to start at 3:00 a.m. ET. Don't miss this pivotal fight for the division's title picture on August 23, 2025.
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