Cain Velasquez Recalls Training With Sergei Pavlovich: 'Not A Lot Of Guys Get The Better Of Me...'

During a recent interview with The Schmo, former two-time UFC heavyweight kingpin Cain Velasquez was asked for his thoughts on a few of the division's rising stars.

Velasquez, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to occupy the throne on MMA's biggest stage, highlighted the talents of Pavlovich, whom he's previously trained with at the American Kickboxing Academy.

Although Velasquez is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, he admitted that the Russian was difficult to handle.

"With Sergei Pavlovich, I've actually trained with him a couple of years ago," Velasquez said. "Obviously when he wasn't at this level yet. He's really tough to deal with, man. Me training with him at AKA, not a lot of guys get the better of me. He was one of those guys where it was very difficult to do what I wanted to against him.

"Good, strong wrestling background. Very strong wrestling defense. But also hard punching and really good striking," Velasquez continued. "(He's) really tough to deal with. Both guys (Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall), I believe, have something really good they bring to the table that obviously makes them future stars."

While Pavlovich's next step beyond weighing in as the backup fighter in New York City early next month is unclear, he's widely expected to be competing with gold on the line when he makes the walk.

Whether that's for a vacant belt or not is yet to be seen, with talk of both Jones and Miocic potentially hanging up their gloves regardless of the result at UFC 295.

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