werdum was literally running forward though. standing still i doubt that shot KOs him.
Stipe is able to plant his back foot for those right hands. They are very powerful punches and Ngannou was indeed staggered from it although only momentarily, baiting Stipe into a check hook. Which is Ngannou best punches by the way: counters off of his back foot. Counters off the back foot would be the most dangerous shots for Pavlovich in a matchup against Ngannou. It is Ngannou's bread and butter.
But Pavlovich is the more clean striker going forward and has a reach advantage even in this matchup and knows how to use it. He is also a more balanced striker and is never off balance; unlike Ngannou who is more loopy and wobbly with his posture. Pavlovich has a wider back and shoulders than Ngannou which gives him more stability on the feet; Ngannou appears to be very arm dominant with very long arms but not as wide back and shoulders, which makes his punches powerful, but his balance and posture comparatively unstable.
As far as chins, they both seem to be made of granite. Ngannou took two bombs from Stipe in the first fight: one in the first round that Stipe put most of his weight into; Ngannou staggered back a bit but shook it off. Another in either the second or third round which snapped Ngannou's head back complete and was blatently audible even with the crowd; Ngannou didn't even flinch. As for Pavlovich he took a clean shot from Tuivasa and a few clean shots from Blaydes; both of which he tanked without flinching to such an extent that most sherdoggers don't even seem to bring them up or notice that they happened.
As for cardio, I lean towards Pavlovich. Ngannou's cardio seems "improved" only because he has the luxury of pacing himself and controlling the center in most of his fights. He would not have that luxury against pavlovich who would take the center and be pushing the action.
Ngannou is also not taking Pavlovich down. Pavlovich has a wrestling/sambo background and Khabib Nurmagomedov himself is on record speaking strongly about Pavlovich's wrestling. I'll take Khabib's word on the matter with more weight than a bunch of random sherdoggers. Not to mention he stuffed Blaydes' sole take down attempt like a thanksgiving turkey.
To sum it up: this will not be a wrestling affair. It will be a striking affair. Pavlovich is more balanced, probably the more explosive striker, cleaner on the feet, has the reach advantage, and strikes better going foward. He takes the center and pressures opponents and Ngannou would be no different. This would be putting constant pressure on Ngannou's cardio. Ngannou's best chance in this fight - and it is a very dangerous one for Pavlovich - is his back foot counters, particularly the left hand whether it be the check hook or the uppercut.
Unfortunately, this fight will probably never come to fruition.
