As the fight nears, here are five moments that have come to define the career of “The Pit Bull.”
Winning Gold
At UFC 51, Arlovski fought Tim Sylvia for the UFC interim heavyweight title. It was widely assumed that the once-beaten Sylvia would prove a tough test for the Belarusian, who had turned 26 the previous day. An early exchange saw Arlovski drop his larger opponent to the canvas. Having delved out some ground and pound from guard, “The Pit Bull” grabbed a hold of Sylvia’s right ankle and sat back on the mat. “The Maine-iac” tried to defend the Achilles lock, but was forced to submit just 47 seconds into the first round. The pair would go on to fight a further three times.
Losing To A Legend
At Affliction: Day of Reckoning, Arlovski met the legendary Russian Fedor Emelianenko. “The Pit Bull” entered the contest on a five-fight win streak. With a little over twenty seconds remaining in the first stanza, he was clobbered by a looping right hook from Emelianenko that sent him plummeting to the mat face first. The brutal knockout marked the start of a losing skid.
Fight Of The Night
In May 2015, Arlovski squared off against Travis Browne at UFC 187. The Belarusian came into the bout having emerged victorious from his previous four matches. Following some wild exchanges in the first frame, Arlovski appeared close to vanquishing his dazed foe with punches. Browne responded by landing a massive right hook which felled Arlovski to his knees. He quickly recovered, and once back on his feet connected with a right uppercut and hook combination that ended the Fight of the Night contest.
Facing Adversity
“The Pit Bull” fought Josh Barnett at UFC Fight Night 93. The clash between the organization’s former heavyweight champions was a highly-entertaining affair. The action saw both combatants find success with their striking. At one point the American had Arlovski mounted, but “The Pit Bull” managed to survive the barrage of strikes. In the third stanza, Barnett secured a rear-naked choke for the win. It remains the only occasion in his career that Arlovski has lost via submission.
Staying Relevant
Arlovski had lost five bouts in a row when he faced Junior Albini at UFC Fight Night 120. The young Brazilian had won his promotional debut, and many were expecting him to get the better of the aging Belarussian. However, a patient Arlovski used his wealth of experience to outland his adversary, and in the process earn a unanimous decision. The much-needed triumph proved that ‘The Pit Bull’ remained a force in the UFC heavyweight division.