Andrei Arlovski, the former UFC heavyweight champion, found himself in an unexpected situation. At 45 years old, he’s not quite ready to hang up his gloves after Dana White announced his exit from the UFC. The Belarusian fighter recently revealed his desire to continue fighting despite his age. His motivation is a newborn baby and bills to pay.
Arlovski’s UFC journey took an unexpected turn at UFC 303. Dana White, the UFC CEO, announced that it was Arlovski’s last fight. Nevertheless, “The Pitbull” had other plans. In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Arlovski opened up about his situation. The former champion shared his desire to break records of fighting until he was 48.
I wanna beat couple more records. One of them, Bernard Hopkin’s. He fought at 48 last fight and he was like champion, like won the fight… Uncle Dana helped me to buy a new house, but I need to pay bills. I got new, newborn baby. So, I need to do something like a couple more years.
Andrei Arlovski via The MMA Hour
Arlovski’s record in the UFC and MMA is nothing short of extraordinary. He has fought numerous high-level fighters over his career, including Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, and Fedor Emelianenko. The veteran made his debut in 2000. He has 42 fights in the UFC with a total record of 34-24-0 (2 NC). He, however, is on a four-fight losing skid. The latest one came at UFC 303 against Martin Buday via split decision.
Arlovski’s candid admission adds a human touch to the often brutal world of MMA. It’s not just about glory; sometimes, it’s about diapers and mortgages. The fighter acknowledged Dana White’s help in buying a new house. Nevertheless, as any homeowner knows, that’s just the beginning of the expenses.
Andrei Arlovski didn’t expect the exit from the UFC
Andrei Arlovski, the former UFC heavyweight champion, recently found himself in an unexpected situation. The 45-year-old veteran was caught off guard by an announcement of his exit from the UFC. The longtime fighter accepted this decision gracefully.
Andrei Arlovski was unaware of his exit from the UFC (via Facts. net)At the UFC 303 press conference, Dana White declared that Arlovski had fought his last bout. The problem was that nobody had told Arlovski. The Belarusian fighter was clearly taken aback by the sudden announcement. After all, he had fought since 2000, spanning nearly two and a half decades.
I didn’t want to finish my journey in the UFC like that, but it is what it is. And yes, I’m not b***hing, just wondering how come? Soooo, my chapter in the UFC is closed, but my book is not finished yet.
Andrei Arlovski via Instagram
The unexpected announcement has left Arlovski at a crossroads. Will he find another promotion to continue his career? Or will he explore other options outside the combat sports world? This remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: like other legends of the sport, Arlovski doesn’t want to end the story yet.
