Andre Arlovski isn’t performed simply but.
At UFC 303, Arlovski fought for the ultimate time within the UFC, dropping a break up resolution to Martin Buday. The bout was Arlovski’s forty second within the promotion, second all-time to Jim Miller, and solely added to the varied heavyweight information Arlovski holds, together with fights, struggle time, and important strikes, amongst others. And heading into the bout, the previous heavyweight champion says he knew it will be his remaining stroll for the promotion.
“I knew it will 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 positively 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 respect the UFC household, Dana [White], Hunter [Campbell]. [But] I’m not performed combating. I’m performed with the UFC however I’m not performed 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 a lot of the subsequent 24 years underneath 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 have the ability to maintain his feelings in test 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 little bit bitch,” Arlovski mentioned. “However as of at this time I sit down and this isn’t the top 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 shouldn’t be over.
“So like I mentioned, I’m very excited, and truly I’m very pleased with how I held [my feelings] after I left the octagon on my means again to the again to the physician to test all of the stuff from the struggle. That was good.
“In fact, I acquired a little bit little bit of emotion, and truly it’s humorous, as a result of proper after the struggle we acquired again to the resort and First Spherical Administration gave me a pleasant current, a pleasant ring with some diamonds and a pitbull emblem. … [Abe Kawa] gave a speech and I acquired tears, I’m not going to lie, in my eyes.”
What comes subsequent for Arlovski remains 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 information,” Arlovski mentioned. “One, Bernard Hopkins, he fought at 48 in his final struggle and he was a champion. He gained that struggle. Clearly Uncle Dana helped me to purchase a brand new home, however I must pay payments. I’ve acquired a new child child, so I must do one thing a pair extra years.”
Hopkins really continued combating into his 50s, even defending the IBF mild heavyweight title till he was 49 years outdated, 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 chance that Arlovski should still return to UFC at some point. He actually is leaving the door open.
“My first UFC was UFC 28, and I really thought if — it’s at all times a hope, proper?” Arlovski mentioned. “If I get one other contract, I’d love that my final struggle in UFC could 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 lots of delight in what he’s achieved.
“I can name myself actually a fighter, I suppose,” Arlovski mentioned. “Preventing 24 years in the US and nearly 20 years in the very best group … 20 years in the very best league. To see the way it was to start with to proper now, that is like, wow.”
Arlovski ends his UFC profession with a document of 23-18 and one no-contest.
