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Sergei Pavlovich is much happier with his performance against Derrick Lewis than the crowd at UFC 277 in Dallas, Texas. Pavlovich stopped Lewis with a first-round TKO that had people screaming about an early stoppage.
Pavlovich and Lewis have worn leather from the start. “The Black Beast” wanted to make a show for his home state, immediately pushing Pavlovich against the fence. Pavlovich cracked Lewis with a counter right hook that tripped him. The Russian heavyweight chased Lewis across the Octagon, unleashing powerful punches. Referee Dan Miragliotta intervened just as Pavlovich dropped his opponent.
Lewis quickly jumped to his feet and protested his stop. The roof flew off the American Airlines Center as the crowd roared in disapproval of Pavlovich’s victory.
Pavlovich was happy with the suspension in a post-fight interview with UFC commentator Joe Rogan. Pavlovich said through a translator that he had done his job and was ready to offload Lewis for the duration of the fight.
Pavlovich (16-1) has finished every fight of his UFC career in the first round and has four straight KO wins. Lewis (26-10, 1 NC) has lost fights for the second straight time in his UFC career.
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