Sergei Pavlovich vs Waldo Cortes Acosta — Fight recap

Sergei Pavlovich earned a unanimous decision victory over Waldo Cortes Acosta across three rounds on August 23, 2025, with referee Marc Goddard overseeing the bout. Pavlovich's striking volume proved decisive, landing 61 significant strikes at 45% accuracy compared to Acosta's 45 significant strikes at 38%, establishing a clear output advantage throughout the fight.

The Russian heavyweight connected on 35 head strikes and demonstrated effective leg work with 14 leg strikes landed, while Acosta managed 27 head strikes in response. Neither fighter secured takedowns, with Pavlovich's three attempts all unsuccessful, keeping the contest standing-based and allowing the volume discrepancy to determine the scorecards.

Pavlovich's superior pace and precision striking, particularly to the head and legs, separated the competitors across all three frames. The victory maintains Pavlovich's standing in the heavyweight division and suggests continued momentum in his pursuit of top-tier competition.