Tallison Teixeira Eyes Volkov After Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Macau

Tallison Teixeira is set to fight sergei pavlovich at UFC Macau, and he already has the next name in mind if he wins. Teixeira said a victory would likely push him into the heavyweight top 10, with a path toward the top 5 or top 3 still on the table.

Teixeira’s Volkov Plan

“Maybe a fight with Volkov next would make sense,” Teixeira said, adding, “Two Russians in a row? That would be funny.” He went a step further and said, “I actually think that fight would be easier than the Sergei fight.”

That is a direct line from UFC Macau to the division’s upper tier. Sergei Pavlovich is the kind of opponent who can change how quickly a fighter moves, and Teixeira did not hide what he thinks a win would do for his place in the division.

Pavlovich’s Recent Run

Pavlovich arrives with a recent record that looks different from the version that built his name. He had back-to-back losses to Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov before a decision win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik, then added another decision a month later against Waldo Cortes-Acosta.

Before that stretch, he put together six first-round knockouts in a row from 2019 to 2023. That earlier run made him one of the most feared early finishers in the division, which is why Teixeira described him as “a very tough and dangerous opponent” and someone he needs to be “extremely well prepared to fight.”

Teixeira’s Shift In July 2025

Teixeira said his view of Pavlovich has become more grounded since he spoke about the matchup in July 2025. “I see it in a more grounded way now,” he said. “But not much has changed for me.”

He also said, “I still see him as a very dangerous guy, someone I need to be extremely well prepared to fight, but I think he’s lost a bit of that momentum and aggression he used to have, and I think that can work in my favor.” Teixeira said he trained for multiple versions of the fight, including a fast, reckless opening and a slower bout decided on points.

What A Win Would Change

Teixeira’s ceiling is the reason this matchup carries so much weight. He said beating Pavlovich would likely make him a top-10 heavyweight, but “Even if I beat him, I don’t think I’d immediately be in the title conversation,” and “I think I still need one or two more fights before getting into that discussion.”

He was still clear about the upside. “But it would put me in the top 5, maybe top 3,” he said. For now, the finish is the target. “I truly believe I’m very well prepared,” he said. “I see myself getting a finish.”