Issue 043
November 2009
Champions are created and destroyed quickly in the sport of MMA. The unfortunate truth is that fans, particularly in America, tend to be fickle, only supporting their ‘favourites’ as long as they’re on top.
Many of these fans would have you think that an ex-champion is nothing more than a fighter who’s already had his turn in the spotlight, and is now on the downward slope that is the remainder of his career. While this may be true for some, it’s anything but the case when it comes to former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei ‘The Pitbull’ Arlovski.
At 29 years of age Arlovski feels he still has a lot to prove, be it in the UFC or with Affliction, the upstart promotion in which he currently finds himself but, is by no means pledged. With his prime still in front of him, the Belorussian’s goals are obvious: face and beat the best, regardless of which promotion he happens to be signed with.
“My goal in the sport is to fight the best fighters out there,” says Arlovski. “Right now, Fedor [Emelianenko] would have to be at the top of my list because he is ranked number one. This [fight] would be an honour.”
With both Arlovski and Emelianenko signed to the Affliction promotion, a fight between the two seems inevitable. But is the Minsk native (currently ranked number four in the world at heavyweight) ready to face arguably the greatest fighter to walk the planet?
Fans were set to find out, until Emelianenko was forced to cancel the match-up due to a nagging hand injury. In its place, Affliction matchmakers announced a number-one contender bout between Arlovski and Pride veteran Josh Barnett. Unfortunately, the cancellation of Affliction’s ‘Day of Reckoning’ event (originally scheduled for 11 October) saw that tilt put on ice, for now anyway.
“Josh is much different than my previous opponents,” says Arlovski, whose professionalism prevented him from expressing any disappointment at the cancellation of the bout. “He is ranked third in the heavyweight division, and is very tough. To beat Josh Barnett you have to be very well-prepared mentally, physically and technically. You have to put together a very good game plan and be prepared to execute it. You also need to avoid making any mistakes or a fighter like Josh will capitalize on it. It is too bad that the fight is off.”
Some fans are quick to criticise Arlovski for having ‘softened up’ in the last couple of years, due to a string of personal problems that the skydiving enthusiast rarely mentions in public. Though Arlovski admits he’s had his fair share of worries and pain, he refuses to make excuses, instead viewing these past events as challenges that have only served to make him stronger.
“Everything happens for a reason,” says Arlovski. “In both professional and personal life. I really understood how important my family was when my grandmother passed away back in January.
I only have my mom and grandpa left now. My ex-girlfriend breaking-up with me was also a major development in my personal life. The break-up has changed me on a personal level.”
Arlovski’s new found mental toughness was definitely apparent in his most recent bout with top-ten heavyweight Ben Rothwell at Affliction ‘Banned’ last July. Arlovski pressed on despite taking hard shots from the steel-jawed IFL standout, eventually stopping him in the third round with a barrage of punches. The fight showcased one of Arlovski’s most impressive performances to date – gone was the wild Andrei Arlovski that fans had seen in the UFC, and in his place was a much more calculated, though still very aggressive, heavyweight.
“Over the years, the feelings going into any fight have changed,” says Arlovski. “I love what I do, and I am excited to fight, but at the same time I feel a lot of responsibility so I try and stay focused on executing my game plan, and concentrate on responding to any challenges that may occur during the fight.”
The fight also showcased Arlovski’s improved stand-up, a result of his time spent with legendary boxing trainer Freddy Roach. Though the Belorussian has always had heavy hands, a lack of technique is often the difference between a knockout punch and a stunning blow. With the help of Roach, Arlovski has greatly improved his timing and ability to string together effective combinations. One could argue that the former UFC title-holder has become the best striker of the heavyweight division – a quality that should worry Emelianenko, Barnett, and any other top ten heavyweights who he may come up against in the future.
“I have recently spent a couple of weeks in LA training with Freddie Roach,” says Arlovski. “If you want to be the best you must train with the best, and training isn’t always fun. It can be difficult at times when I am preparing for a fight. But I enjoy it; that is my life and that is what I do.”
Fun or not, Arlovski’s training with Roach seems to be paying off. In fact, it was reported that Roach was so impressed with the former champion’s skills that a career in the sweet science could very well be a possibility. With the recent Affliction-Golden Boy partnership announced, some speculate that we’ll see Arlovski donning the ten ounce gloves in one of the boxing / MMA hybrid pay per view events planned for 2009. Whether it’s true or not, Arlovski has made it clear that MMA is his priority. “First come my MMA fights,” said Arlovski in a recent press event. “Then we’ll see about boxing.”
Though his stand-up has improved, Arlovski is not one to neglect his ground game. A former Sambo champion, the ‘Pit Bull’ learnt the art while training to be a police officer in his native Belarus before he moved to Chicago, his new home. Because of the lack of Sambo training in America, the former Sambo world silver medallist has instead turned to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which he trains with Rickson Gracie protégé Dino Costeas.
2009 could be a big year for Arlovski. With two of the world’s top heavyweights in his reach, and with the bridge to the UFC still intact, the ‘Pit Bull’ could very well climb in the ranks to the top three, especially when one takes into account the fact that he still has many years ahead of him.
With two fights left on his current contract, it is unclear whether the heavyweight will stay with the new American promotion long-term, or even if Affliction will continue to exist long enough for Arlovski to fulfil his side of the deal. Either way, he firmly believes that jumping ship was the right move – be it for better competition, better money, or simply an opportunity to test new waters.
“I personally believe we should give Affliction an opportunity to sort things out,” says Arlovski. “It is up to Affliction who I will fight next. I signed a three-fight contract with them, and I’m concentrating on that.”
Recently, the UFC made it clear that Arlovski would always be welcome to return to their fold, so it would seem that the top heavyweight contender is not lacking in future career options, unlike so many ex-champions, who essentially become gatekeepers for smaller promotions. The reality is that the ‘Pit Bull’ is worth much more to a promoter today, than he was three years ago. For many, losing a title spells the end, but for Arlovski, losing the UFC heavyweight belt actually signified a fresh new start.
“Up until today, I would say that winning the UFC heavyweight championship belt and losing the UFC belt were the two most important events of my career,” says Arlovski. “This has helped shape me as a fighter, but there are many exciting events still to come in the future.”
This interview was made possible thanks to the help of Kris at Knock Out Dog Fighting, a community outreach program set up to combat and shed more light on the prevalence of dog fighting and its overall effect on the community. For more information on their work and Arlovski’s involvement with the organisation, go to
www.knockoutdogfighting.org
