That responsibility to perform at home can sometimes be both a blessing and a curse, especially for a relative newcomer to the UFC like Pavlovich.
It’s an honor to fight at home, but there also comes inherent pressure to perform in front of a crowd like that, not to mention friends and family who may be in the arena to watch the event.
Pavlovich knows what to expect since he’s been there before while competing in Russia, and he’s confident that nothing will rattle him on fight night because this is a huge moment for his career and he’s not going to waste it.
“I don’t think about anything before the fight; I try to stay calm and focus – that’s the secret,” Pavlovich stated.
“The most important thing for me is to entertain the Russian fans, but winning in this fight is also important for me.”
At the end of the night, as long as Pavlovich’s hand is raised in victory, he’ll be satisfied because he plans on having a very successful career as part of the UFC roster.
That’s why he’s ready to do whatever it takes to beat Golm on Saturday night, get back in the win column and put on a thrilling performance for his home crowd.
“I don’t like to predict my fights,” Pavlovich said. “I will try to get the win and I will do everything for it.”
