Fighter Profile: Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski

Hometown: Minsk, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 237lbs

Age: 30

Current Organization: TBD

Professional Record: 15-7

Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski is widely considered to be one of the best heavyweight fighters in the world today, and is regarded as one of the best boxers currently fighting in Mixed Martial Arts in any weight class.

Andrei is a competent Russian Sambo practitioner, having picked up the art during his training for law enforcement when he was younger. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion won the 1999 European Youth Sambo Championship and the World Youth Championship. Arlovski would go on to take silver medals at the Sambo World Cup and the World Sambo Championship.

After a rocky start to his UFC career, Arlovski would go on to become one of the most popular heavyweight fighters in the world after stealing the interim UFC heavyweight title from the unpopular former UFC champion Tim Sylvia at UFC 51 in 2005. Arlovski lost the title in a rematch to Sylvia one year later at UFC 59 and lost the rubber match at UFC 61, losing both fights in the first round. During his time with the UFC, Arlovski fought 14 times going 10-4 with the UFC.

> Pro Fighting Fans allows fans to browse or buy MMA apparel & hats as well as Metal Mulisha clothing & merchandise and check out the great Round 5 MMA figurines of some of the top names in Mixed Martial Arts!

While Arlovski is a skilled combatant on the ground, he has garnered a reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous and accurate strikers, with 11 of his 15 wins coming by way of KO or TKO.

Arlovski most recently saw action in January 2009 at Affliction: Day of Reckoning, where he suffered a first round knockout loss to current WAMMA Heavyweight Champion and consensus #1 heavyweight fighter in the world, Fedor Emelianenko.

Arlovski latest fight saw him get knocked out by rising heavyweight prospect Brett Rogers at Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields on June 6, 2009. The future for Arlovski is now uncertain as his reputation as a top MMA heavyweight has taken a major hit after KO losses in both of his last two fights. Without a win since his KO of former IFL heavyweight champ Roy Nelson at Elite XC: Heat in October 2008, Arlovski will likely look to get back on track with a smaller MMA promotion and build up some confidence and wins.

Notable wins: Vladamir Matyushenko, Tim Sylvia, Fabricio Werdum, Ben Rothwell

Recent Ardrei Arlovski MMA News:

• 01.24.09: Lost to Fedor Emelianenko by KO at Affliction: Day of Reckoning - Fedor Emelianenko vs Andrei Arlovski video

• 06.06.09: Lost to Brett Rogers by KO at Strikeforce: Lawler vs Shields - Brett Rogers vs Andrei Arlovski video

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer
Updated September 2009