Andrei Arlovski

Andrei Arlovski

Andrei Valeryevich Arlovski (born 4 February 1979) is a Belarusian-American mixed martial artist, actor and former UFC Heavyweight Champion. He has also competed for Strikeforce, WSOF, Affliction, EliteXC, ONE FC and M-1 Challenge. As of November 9, 2020, he is #15 in the UFC heavyweight rankings.

About Andrei Arlovski in brief

Summary Andrei ArlovskiAndrei Valeryevich Arlovski (born 4 February 1979) is a Belarusian-American mixed martial artist, actor and former UFC Heavyweight Champion. He has also competed for Strikeforce, WSOF, Affliction, EliteXC, ONE FC and M-1 Challenge. As of November 9, 2020, he is #15 in the UFC heavyweight rankings. He was born in Babruisk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union. He took up martial arts at the age of 16 in sports such as Sambo, Judo and Kickboxing. In 1999, he won the European Youth Sambo Championship and the World Youth Championship. In 2000, he took the heavyweight crown with a submission victory and a KO victory. In a rematch with Tim Sylvia at UFC 59 on 15 April 2006, Arlovki knocked Sylvia down with a right hand punch early in the first round. In what turned out to be a 5-round battle of attrition, neither fighter was able to KO the other or even land any truly significant blows. It was later discovered that ArlovSKi had been significantly injured by a kick to the leg in the second round which left him unable to throw kicks of his own or make any takedown attempts. When confronted by a reporter about the injury, he avoided directly responding and only said: ‘I do not want to talk about my leg’ In July 2006, he was stopped by referee Herb Dean at 2: 43 of the firstround. The rubber match took place on July 8, 2006, between Tim Sylvia and Arlovski at UFC 61. In the end, Sylvia won the fight by a unanimous decision by unanimous decision.

He then went on to defend his interim title on 4 June 2005, at UFC 53, against Justin Eilers. In October 2005, he once again defended his title at UFC 55 against top contender Paul Buentello. On 12 August 2005, the UFC announced that it now recognized Arlovsky as the undisputed heavyweight champion, as Frank Mir had not fully rehabilitated from his motorcycle accident. He is married to fellow mixed martial arts fighter and former professional boxer, Lina Kuznetsov. The couple have a daughter, a son, a daughter-in-law and a step-son. He also has a son who is a professional boxer and a son-in law. He currently lives in Minsk, Belarus with his wife and has a daughter with his fiancee, Anastasia. In 2004, he became the first Master of Sports and then International Master of Sport to compete in the Sambo World Cup and World Sambo Championships. In 2009, he competed in the European Championships, taking a silver medal at the World Sam bo championship. In 2010, he defended his heavyweight crown at the European Championship, taking the gold medal. In 2011, he defeated future British Cage Rage Light heavyweight Champion Ian Freeman and future IFL Light heavyweight. Champion Vladimir Matyushenko. In 2012, he lost to future UFC heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez and heavyweight contender Pedro Rizzo.