Preview: UFC Fight Night 149 ‘Overeem vs. Oleynik’

Heavyweights

Sergei Pavlovich (12-1) vs. Marcelo Golm (6-2)

ODDS: Pavlovich (-280), Golm (+240)

If nothing else, this fight should go better for Pavlovich than his UFC debut did. Pavlovich was a hyped signing when the UFC picked him up in 2018, owing to an undefeated record against a strong slate of competition. However, the promotion did him no favors by starting him against Alistair Overeem. Pavlovich is a solid striker with some power, but his methodical style figured to get him eaten alive by Overeem, and the veteran contender did indeed beat him within a round. At the very least, this main card slot is a sign that the UFC has not immediately given up on the talented 26-year old, as he gets what could be a showcase fight against Golm.

Golm is an interesting prospect, even if he might be in danger of getting chewed up and spit out by the UFC meat grinder. Golm’s first few fights were the typical heavyweight fare, as he looked good running through athletically overmatched opponents on the Brazilian scene but did not answer a ton of questions in terms of sustainable skill. Indeed, Golm quickly hit the wall; Timothy Johnson and Arjan Singh Bhullar managed to grind out and exhaust Golm without much trouble in two one-sided losses. Perhaps Golm can figure out things, but he looked a bit too passive in the Bhullar fight, which raises some concerns about how this adversity is affecting him. This fight against Pavlovich might be his last chance in the UFC to turn around things.

This is certainly a lower-level heavyweight fight. If Golm goes back to his more aggressive ways, this could get interesting, as Pavlovich typically keeps things at a slow pace. However, given his last few performances, it seems more likely that Golm meets Pavlovich on his terms, and in a passive striking match, Pavlovich’s longer reach and better boxing should carry the day. It does not figure to be exciting, but the pick is Pavlovich via decision.

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