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Andrei Arlovski: 'I want to earn the opportunity to be back in the UFC again'

2K views 16 replies 11 participants last post by  Stun Gun 
#1 ·
Andrei Arlovski: 'I want to earn the opportunity to be back in the UFC again'


By Jesse Hollandon Mar 11 2013, 11:21a



Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski left UFC on a three-fight winning streak, which is exactly what he'll have (again) if he can get past Anthony Johnson in his next fight. But would it earn him a second-look from ZUFFA officials?


The clock is ticking for former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski.

The 34 year-old "Pitbull" hasn't seen the inside of the Octagon in over five years, a technical knockout win over Jake O'Brien at UFC 82 in early 2008. Arlovski insists he left ZUFFA on good terms -- in addition to his three-fight winning streak -- and hopes he can eventually earn his return to the world's premiere mixed martial arts (MMA) organization.

From his conversation with MMA Weekly:


"I left the UFC on good terms. I don't want the UFC to take me back in the UFC because I was a champion in the UFC. I want to earn the opportunity to be back in the UFC again. More importantly, with my career, every fight I've shown a good fight, and showed my skills, and showed that I'm getting better and better and better from fight to fight. Like I said, you never know. I might one day be in the UFC again, but I definitely want to be a champion and I want to be No. 1 in the world again because I know the taste of glory and the taste of being on top of the world. I also know that feeling when you're down. I definitely want to be a champion and I want to be on top of the world again. Definitely, I will be on top again."

Arlovski (19-9) is 6-4 (one no contest) since setting sail for greener pastures in competing promotions, but has struggled to rid fans of the memories they still have of his dreadful 0-4 run, which started and ended with devastating knockout losses to Fedor Emelianenko and Sergei Kharitonov.

He's been able to turn the corner, but his quality of opposition has been mediocre, at best.

The Belarusian will fight a more recognizable name in Anthony Johnson in the main event of World Series of Fighting (WSOF) II at the Revel Hotel & Casino on March 23, 2013 in Atlantic City, NJ, but a win over "Rumble" may not be the catalyst to his UFC return, considering Johnson used to compete at 170 pounds.

Time will tell.

How about it, fight fans, who wants to #Rally4Arlovski? Anyone think the former UFC titleholder has done enough to warrant a return to the big show? And what are his chances of success if he does?

http://www.mmamania.com/2013/3/11/4089396/wsof-andrei-arlovski-anthony-johnson-earn-ufc-return-mma
 
#4 ·
Yes, he's one of the last HWs that needs to be signed back into the UFC.

For him it's 90% mental. If he's mentally prepared then he'll be legit top 10. He's got the best combos at HW.

A rematch against BF is due.
 
#14 ·
You have to admit that AA always made a decent fight every time out. He was winning against Fedor until he got cocky and rushed in. As said earlier that KO has been a burr in his side I am glad he is past. Bring him back to UFC. may never again be a true contender; but definately a top notch Gate Keeper.
 
#16 ·
The thing is he is quite capable of beating Werdum, Struve and Nelson but equally capable of losing to Levar Johnson, Miocic or Pat Barry.

He'd sit somewhere in the middle of the division but I could see the UFC using him as a highlight real generator.
 
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