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Andre Arlovski isn’t executed simply but.
At UFC 303, Arlovski fought for the ultimate time within the UFC, shedding a cut up choice 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 data 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 stated 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 respect the UFC household, Dana [White], Hunter [Campbell]. [But] I’m not executed preventing. I’m executed with the UFC however I’m not executed preventing.”
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 below 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 be capable of maintain 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 just a little bitch,” Arlovski stated. “However as of right this moment I sit down and this isn’t the top of life. Clearly I spent the most important 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 isn’t over.
“So like I stated, I’m very excited, and really I’m very pleased with how I held [my feelings] after I left the octagon on my approach again to the again to the physician to examine all of the stuff from the battle. That was good.
“In fact, I acquired just a little little bit of emotion, and really it’s humorous, as a result of proper after the battle we acquired again to the lodge 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 preventing for a number of extra years.
“I wish to beat a pair extra data,” Arlovski stated. “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 acquired 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 previous, so at 45, Arlovski nonetheless has a number of years left to catch as much as “The Executioner.” And on condition that, there’s additionally all the time the likelihood that Arlovski should still return to UFC someday. 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 stated. “If I get one other contract, I’d 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 a variety of pleasure in what he’s achieved.
“I can name myself actually a fighter, I suppose,” Arlovski stated. “Combating 24 years in the US and virtually 20 years in the perfect group … 20 years in the perfect 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.
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