Andre Arlovski isn’t accomplished simply but.
At UFC 303, Arlovski fought for the ultimate time within the UFC, shedding 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 assorted heavyweight information Arlovski holds, together with fights, battle time, and important strikes, amongst others. And heading into the bout, the previous heavyweight champion says he knew it will be his last stroll for the promotion.
“I knew it will be my final battle,” 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 battle [in the UFC].
“That’s why I didn’t wish to do any goodbye movies or no matter. However I do admire the UFC household, Dana [White], Hunter [Campbell]. [But] I’m not accomplished preventing. I’m accomplished with the UFC however I’m not accomplished preventing.”
Arlovski was the final lively 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 quite a lot of promotions. That’s a very long time to spend with one firm. Even somebody as stoic as “The Pitbull” wasn’t positive he’d be capable of preserve his feelings in examine at UFC 303.
“Be sincere with you, I assumed I used to be going to be like a crying child, I’m going to cry like somewhat bitch,” Arlovski mentioned. “However as of right now I sit down and this isn’t the top of life. Clearly I spent the largest period of time coaching and preventing 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 will not be 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 method again to the again to the physician to examine all of the stuff from the battle. That was good.
“In fact, I obtained somewhat little bit of emotion, and truly it’s humorous, as a result of proper after the battle we obtained 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 obtained 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 preserve preventing for just a few extra years.
“I wish to beat a pair extra information,” Arlovski mentioned. “One, Bernard Hopkins, he fought at 48 in his final battle and he was a champion. He received that battle. Clearly Uncle Dana helped me to purchase a brand new home, however I have to pay payments. I’ve obtained a new child child, so I have to do one thing a pair extra years.”
Hopkins really continued preventing 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 all the time the likelihood that Arlovski should still return to UFC in the future. He definitely is leaving the door open.
“My first UFC was UFC 28, and I really thought if — it’s all the time a hope, proper?” Arlovski mentioned. “If I get one other contract, I might love that my final battle 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 quite a lot of delight in what he’s achieved.
“I can name myself actually a fighter, I suppose,” Arlovski mentioned. “Preventing 24 years in america and virtually 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 file of 23-18 and one no-contest.
