Sergei Pavlovich Slated to Be Backup Fighter for UFC 285 Main Event

With big-ticket main events, it’s always good to have a backup plan.

According to ESPN, Sergei Pavlovich will serve in as the alternate fighter for the Jon Jones-Ciryl Gane headliner at UFC 285 on Saturday. Pavlovich will weigh-in on Friday and must hit the heavyweight mark to be eligible to step in should something happen to either Jones or Gane. UFC president Dana White confirmed during the UFC Fight Night 220 post-fight press conference that the heavyweight title bout would have an alternate but he did not name the fighter who would serve in that role.

Pavlovich is currently scheduled to face Curtis Blaydes in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card on April 22. The 30-year-old Russian owns a 17-1 career mark, with his lone setback coming against Alistair Overeem in his Octagon debut. Since then, Pavlovich has won five consecutive UFC bouts — all via first-round KO/TKO.

UFC 285 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and features the showdown between Jones and Gane for the vacant heavyweight title. In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko will defend the flyweight crown against Alexa Grasso. The main card airs on pay-per-view via ESPN+ beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.