Andrei Arlovski isn’t executed simply but.
At UFC 303, Arlovski fought for the ultimate time within the UFC, dropping a break up determination to Martin Buday. The bout was Arlovski’s forty second within the promotion, second all-time to Jim Miller, and solely added to the assorted heavyweight data Arlovski holds, together with fights, struggle time, and vital strikes, amongst others. And heading into the bout, the previous heavyweight champion says he knew it could be his closing stroll for the promotion.
“I knew it could be my final struggle,” Arlovski mentioned on The MMA Hour. “UFC proposed to do one thing however I didn’t need it as a result of my chapter within the UFC is closed, however undoubtedly not in my MMA profession. That’s why I made a decision to do nothing. And yeah, it was final struggle [in the UFC].
“That’s why I didn’t need to do any goodbye movies or no matter. However I do admire the UFC household, Dana [White], Hunter [Campbell]. [But] I’m not executed combating. I’m executed with the UFC however I’m not executed combating.”
Arlovski was the final energetic UFC fighter who competed for the promotion earlier than Zuffa LLC bought it in 2001. Making his promotional debut at UFC 28 again in 2000, Arlovski spent many of the subsequent 24 years beneath the UFC banner, save for a four-year stretch competing for a wide range of promotions. That’s a very long time to spend with one firm. Even somebody as stoic as “The Pitbull” wasn’t certain he’d be capable to maintain his feelings in verify at UFC 303.
“Be trustworthy with you, I assumed I used to be going to be like a crying child, I’m going to cry like a bit bitch,” Arlovski mentioned. “However as of right now I sit down and this isn’t the tip of life. Clearly I spent the largest period of time coaching and combating within the UFC, however I didn’t signal a brand new contract with the UFC, I left the UFC, my chapter within the UFC is completed, however life just isn’t over.
“So like I mentioned, I’m very excited, and truly I’m very proud of how I held [my feelings] once I left the octagon on my manner again to the again to the physician to verify all of the stuff from the struggle. That was good.
“After all, I received a bit little bit of emotion, and truly it’s humorous, as a result of proper after the struggle we received again to the resort and First Spherical Administration gave me a pleasant current, a pleasant ring with some diamonds and a pitbull brand. … [Abe Kawa] gave a speech and I received tears, I’m not going to lie, in my eyes.”
What comes subsequent for Arlovski continues to be up within the air, although the previous heavyweight champion insists he’ll maintain combating for a couple of extra years.
“I need to beat a pair extra data,” Arlovski mentioned. “One, Bernard Hopkins, he fought at 48 in his final struggle and he was a champion. He received that struggle. Clearly Uncle Dana helped me to purchase a brand new home, however I must pay payments. I’ve received a new child child, so I must do one thing a pair extra years.”
Hopkins truly continued combating into his 50s, even defending the IBF mild heavyweight title till he was 49 years previous, so at 45, Arlovski nonetheless has a number of years left to catch as much as “The Executioner.” And provided that, there’s additionally at all times the likelihood that Arlovski should still return to UFC at some point. He definitely is leaving the door open.
“My first UFC was UFC 28, and I truly thought if — it’s at all times a hope, proper?” Arlovski mentioned. “If I get one other contract, I might love that my final struggle in UFC can be UFC 328. 300 UFCs later. However who is aware of? We’ll see.”
But when that doesn’t occur, Arlovski is content material with how his UFC profession has performed out, and has loads of pleasure in what he’s completed.
“I can name myself actually a fighter, I assume,” Arlovski mentioned. “Preventing 24 years in america and virtually 20 years in the perfect group … 20 years in the perfect league. To see the way it was to start with to proper now, that is like, wow.”
Arlovski ends his UFC profession with a report of 23-18 and one no-contest.
