UFC Vegas 71 results: Biggest winners, loser from ‘Pavlovich vs. Blaydes’ last night

UFC Vegas 71 went down last night (Sat., April 22, 2023) inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring a Heavyweight fight that saw Sergei Pavlovich score a vicious first round knockout win over Curtis Blaydes (highlights). In further action, Bruno Silva stopped Brad Tavares in the opening frame as well.

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Biggest Winner: Sergei Pavlovich

All Pavlovich does is win ... and violently. The Russian big man scored his sixth straight first round stoppage win after knocking out the No. 4-ranked Blaydes. The win should without question earn him the next Heavyweight title shot (after Stipe Miocic, of course). People have been sleeping on Pavlovich, but his latest streak has mandated that he deserves the attention and respect as a legit threat to win the 265-pound strap. The man is a nightmare for anyone who stands in front of him and if not for Miocic standing in the way, he’d be the rightful owner of the next title shot.

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Runner Up: Bruno Silva

Coming into the event, Silva was riding a career-first, two-fight losing streak, putting him in danger of falling further down the pecking order and possibly even getting a pink slip. It’s that hunger and desperation that gave him the extra urgency to get in and take care of business. And he did just that, stopping Tavares quickly via technical knockout. The win gives Silva some much-needed confidence moving forward and a new lease on his combat life. It should at least earn him another fight inside the Octagon.

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Biggest Loser: Curtis Blaydes

Once again, Blaydes came short when he's on the verge of breaking through for a shot at the title. Back in 2021, “Razor” faced Derrick Lewis, attempting to earn his fifth straight win to possibly earn a championship fight. Instead, he was knocked out cold by “Black Beast.” He bounced back to earn three straight wins to put him in the position to once again get into the championship conversation. And once again, unfortunately, the best wrestler in the division today was knocked out in scary fashion, ending his streak and momentum. But, that’s the fight game, and Blaydes has proven that he can bounce back and rack up wins in a hurry.

For complete UFC Vegas 71 results and coverage click here.