This Week’s MMA Birthdays: Andrei Arlovski Turns 35

Andrei Arlovski turns 35 this week. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

One of 13 men to have held the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight crown, Andrei Arlovski will celebrate his 35th birthday on Feb. 4.

Arlovski captured the interim heavyweight title at UFC 51, defended it against Justin Eilers at UFC 53 and was later promoted to undisputed champion after a motorcycle accident left Frank Mir unable to compete. He retained the belt once -- Arlovski knocked out Paul Buentello in 15 seconds -- and then surrendered the title to Tim Sylvia at UFC 59. “The Pit Bull” compiled a 10-4 record in the UFC before parting ways with the promotion after defeating Jake O’Brien in March 2008.

Inconsistency followed, as Arlovski became something of a vagabond. The Belarusian sambo practitioner has won four of his past five bouts. Arlovski last appeared at a Fight Nights show in November, when he stopped Andreas Kraniotakes on second-round punches in his native Belarus.

Those in MMA celebrating a birthday during the week covering Feb. 2-Feb. 8:

FEB. 2

Hector Lombard (36)
Denis Stojnic (34)

FEB. 3

Rodrigo Damm (34)
Ricardo Tirloni (31)
Phillipe Nover (30)
Eduardo Dantas (25)

FEB. 4

Andrei Arlovski (35)
Satoru Kitaoka (34)

FEB. 5

Antoni Hardonk (38)
Lyle Beerbohm (35)
Bubba Jenkins (26)

FEB. 6

Waachiim Spiritwolf (38)
Shinichi Kojima (35)
Mamoru Nakamura (33)

FEB. 7

Haruo Ochi (30)
T.J. Dillashaw (28)
Cesar Avila (25)
Jae Hyun So (25)

FEB. 8

Yuki Ishikawa (47)
Kevin Ferguson (40)

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