Freddie Roach: Arlovski is "50/50" Against Juan Carlos Gomez

by Michael Rome on Jan 20, 2009 4:44 PM EST in News Comment 46 comments

Andrei_medium

Dave Meltzer has a piece up on the Arlovski-Fedor match, and the piece is filled with interesting quotes from Freddie Roach:

"I think that his footwork as a boxer is not that great," said Roach. "I know he is a good puncher coming forward, but as far as his forward contact rating, I think we have a huge advantage in the footwork and we can take advantage of that."

...

"We have an Olympian from Africa who is one of his main sparring partners," said Roach. "And a Mexican champion who has 90 wins and five losses, and as an amateur was No. 2 in the world. He already boxed him, and he has a good style just like Fedor, very much like him. I mean, we have him sparring some tough guys in there. And you know Juan Carlos Gomez. And Andrei is 50/50 with him and he’s fighting for the world title in his next fight. So, in boxing, he’s doing fine.

Coaches always talk up their guy, but I don't think Freddie would really get out there behind a fighter unless he thought they could really deliver. Who knows, maybe Andrei Arlovski has a big future in boxing? All this being said, I feel like Freddie Roach is going to get a harsh taste of MMA reality on Saturday night. I expect Fedor to overwhelm Arlovski in every aspect of the game.

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roach is correct from a boxing perspective, but this is not boxing. as far as arlovski’s boxing career goes, he has neither the punching power nor chin to fight with the top HWs in the boxing game right now.

by #5mmafan on Jan 20, 2009 4:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

At least Roach is consistent. Arlovski might be an amazing boxer, but I’m unimpressed with him on the ground. He better punch Fedor early and often before Fedor takes him down.

by Cannon Jacques on Jan 20, 2009 4:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I just don’t see how he can really get in a boxing rhythm if Fedor is constantly exploding in to take Andrei down.

by Michael Rome on Jan 20, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Fedor’s ego will get in the wa… I can’t even type that sentence.

by subo on Jan 20, 2009 5:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s the problem.

Being the best boxer in the world doesn’t mean much when you throw in kicks and takedowns.

by Phildo on Jan 20, 2009 5:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fedor doesn’t have an exploding take down like wrestlers. Watching Fedor, he first has work his way into guard using his boxing and deception than he grabs on for take down.

by bignerd on Jan 20, 2009 6:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What he does, usually, is explode in with wide strikes, closes the distance, and uses takedowns from the clinch, often with throws. I didn’t mean a Rashad Evans style takedown.

by Michael Rome on Jan 20, 2009 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, I think Fedor is going to try that. If/When Arlovski becomes the aggressor I expect Fedor to try to crouch and have Arlovski’s momentum carry him into him.

by bignerd on Jan 20, 2009 6:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

AA =/= great boxer

Remember Arvloski was ko’ed and then out boxed for 5 rounds by Tim Sylvia. Remember Roy Nelson took him to the ground? If Nelson can take AA down, how am I suppose to beleive that he will stop Fedor from taking him down? Arvloski is NOT a great boxer and he has little to no ground game.
Fedor wins by total domination in the first round.

Leg Locks Rule!

by jjdnb on Jan 20, 2009 8:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

remember when rashad was a pure wrestler? guy can improve you know. and roach IS a great boxing trainer..

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Jan 20, 2009 9:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In 3 months.

Brad Ziegler had a scoreless inning streak. Brad Ziegler had not met BJ Upton.

by P Brady on Jan 20, 2009 10:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What I think will happen isn't what I want

What I want is an Arlovski-Yvel WAMMA HW Championship matchup.

That never happens.

by subo on Jan 20, 2009 5:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

LOL,

wouldnt that be the shits!

by mmalogic on Jan 20, 2009 6:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Still possible

Once AA gets manhandled by Fedor and Yvel gets schooled by Barnet, this might become a possibility

Leg Locks Rule!

by jjdnb on Jan 20, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah what Rome said.

Boxing =/= MMA. Arlovski might win a standing exchange, but if it hits the ground he’s done.

Kuwabara Kuwabara

by J. B. Maddox on Jan 20, 2009 5:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ever since they shaved his chest Arlovski has sucked. He needs to grow that fur back if he wants to win.

by The_Vig on Jan 20, 2009 5:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

“We have an Olympian from Africa who is one of his main sparring partners,” said Roach. “And a Mexican champion who has 90 wins and five losses, and as an amateur was No. 2 in the world. He already boxed him, and he has a good style just like Fedor, very much like him.”

Is anyone else terrified that Fedor has a striking style very similar to these great boxers they are bringing in to train Arlovski? Wasn’t that supposed to be his weakness?

by Day Man on Jan 20, 2009 5:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Roach?

it’s hard to think much of a boxing trainer’s insight on MMA…when Fedor has DEMOLISHED guys like CroCop (in his prime) and other monsters in that weight class….Fedor doesn’t just win, he demolishes. Sylvia against Couture or Arlovski…..then look at Fedor – D E S T R U C T I O N

Gatti.
Dekkers.
Pele.
Tadahiro Nomura.
Hidehiko Yoshida.
Aoki.
Kang.
Vanderlei.

by theworldsoldestsport on Jan 20, 2009 5:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Total BS

Juan Carlos Gomez is one of the best Cruiserweights ever. Arlovski looked mediocre sparring Oquendo, so you can bet your bottom dollar that he’s not 50/50 with JC Gomez.

Roach is so full of shit anymore he’s not even worth quoting.

by JCS_FM on Jan 20, 2009 5:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, I’m convinced. Should Arlovski and Emelianenko meet in a boxing match, I’m taking Arlovski.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Jan 20, 2009 6:11 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

This is the only lesson we can take from this story.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Jan 20, 2009 7:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Arloski also trained with David Beckham and other top soccer stars to get more power out of his kicks.

This guys is talking about his boxing like it’s a boxing match… it’s an MMA match

by adamdd on Jan 20, 2009 6:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

arlosvki**** (correction in spelling)

by adamdd on Jan 20, 2009 6:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

arlovski******(correction in spelling)

by #5mmafan on Jan 20, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Do you really think anyone is ever going to have the ground advantage against Fedor (7-time Sambo champion)?

AA sharping his boxing does improve his advantage in the fight. Fedor doesn’t have the traditional wrestling take down and he relies on his stand up combat to get him inside for a toss. Seems to me boxing is a good idea, question is whether it will work?

Oh well, its MMA. Who in here predicted Mir over Nog and Evans over Liddell?

by bignerd on Jan 20, 2009 6:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I thought Evans would beat Liddell, but by boring lay and pray decision.

by DirtyML on Jan 20, 2009 6:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Has anyone told Roach this is not a boxing match yet?

he seems pretty fascinated with Fedors stand up.

I really hope Arlovski is training his takedown defence and jiujitsu, because the way I see things going, Fedor will close the distance and probably sweep him and proceed to armbar him or kimura him.

by DirtyML on Jan 20, 2009 6:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Roach’s plan is to get Fedor moving backward in the stand up. See if he has the foot work to move out the way from someone else’s heavy shots. Watching Fedor fight one thing is for sure, he eats opponents alive stepping forward so you cannot sit back and hope to counter punch.

Arlovski was asked a lot about his ground defense in last weeks interviews. Basically stated he didn’t think his ground defense was that bad against Rothwell and Nelson because his guard was only trying to avoid damage, which he did. He said for Fedor he’s been working on more motion in his ground defense so he can try to slide out if needed.

by bignerd on Jan 20, 2009 7:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

my money is on fedor....

both standing and of course on the ground.

is everyone forgetting andre has a glass chin? fedor ko’s him if he decides to stand up with him.

also do not forget SPARING is with about 18-20 ounce gloves. believe me, if juan carlos gomez wanted to knock out andre he would have very easily. not many people care to knock out their sparing partners. if they did they would just have to pay for more.

by sonofapsycho on Jan 20, 2009 6:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Arlovski will try to do what he did against werdum…

That shit aint gonna work with Fedor…

Having said that… Arlovskis least disadvantaged spot is on the feet and staying on the outside.

Yeah Fedor doesnt have takedowns shooting from the outside but his clinch is top notch.

Its actually safer to get takedowns from the clinch than shooting in.

Its not terribly difficult to get to a clinch while fighting .. look at boxing.

What gets me is all these idiots ranking arlovski #2 at HW… what common sense concluded this?

The best guy he has ever beat at heavyweight was Sylvia… he also then lost to him 2 times in a row.

And Barnett is somehow a top 4 heavyweight?

He lost to Nog and to Cro Cop twice… and since then he hasn’t fought anybody relevant.

by mmalogic on Jan 20, 2009 7:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

In July Arlovski was 6th. Than Sylvia lost to Fedor, Couture lost to Lesnar, Nog lost to Mir than AA jumped Barnett because he was given the fight and has two current victories compared to Barnett’s one. Lesnar and Mir were so far down the rankings.

Yes, AA didn’t beat anyone in the top 5, but he’s beaten several notable fighters decisively in his win streak.

by bignerd on Jan 20, 2009 7:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So are you saying there is no such thing as 2nd and 3rd best heavyweights? Giving a one-sided account of how Arlovski and Barnett have been doing (Barnett beat Nogueira too, btw) doesn’t mean much if they’re still faring better than the guys below them.

by smoogy on Jan 20, 2009 7:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m saying Arlovski is ranked #2 or #3 because everyone above him has recently lost and looked terrible doing so, except for Couture. If Arlovski gets beat like Sylvia he will drop back down like the rest.

As far as Arlovski passing Barnett I noticed he jumped Barnett after beating Nelson and it was announced he was going to fight Fedor. Not saying I agree with it, but that is how it happened.

by bignerd on Jan 20, 2009 7:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Smoogy’s right. If they’re not 2 and 3, who is?

by Beer Monster on Jan 20, 2009 8:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who?

by bignerd on Jan 20, 2009 10:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

To say Arlovski is #2 you have to say Sylvia is #1 because he beat his ass twice…

Arlovksi’s best win was Tim and then he got his ass kicked twice by him… How do you become #2 by beating nobodies?

You can’t just move up the rankings because the guys infront of you happen to be fighting serious competition and then losing…

Is Arlovski and Barnett contenders… sure.

But what have they done to even be considered top 5?

by mmalogic on Jan 20, 2009 11:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They were near the top of list and haven’t gotten their ass handed back to them anytime recently. Sylvia was destroyed by Fedor, Nog was destroyed by Mir those guys should not keep their spots.

The Sylvia twice over AA argument doesn’t work. Than you have say Tito is higher ranked than Forrest and Rashad.

by bignerd on Jan 21, 2009 12:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There is a difference…

Rashad has beaten guys better ranked than Tito… and Forrest has beaten guys better ranked than Tito -…

Since Arlovski beat Sylvia he lost to him twice and has yet to beat anyone better ranked than Tim…

Arlovski has no case for being #2 or even ranked ahead of Sylvia.

Same goes for Barnett…

by mmalogic on Jan 21, 2009 12:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You can poke a hole in ranking, but take it up with the rest of the world. They have AA ranked #2 or #3, not me. I just gave you the explanation.

by bignerd on Jan 21, 2009 3:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you cant poke many holes in saying fedor is #1 at hw… he has a pretty strong case after he beat sylvia.

AA has no case for being number 2 and barnett has no case for even being in the top 4…

by mmalogic on Jan 21, 2009 9:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

...

Because Tito got a draw against Rashad? AA is 1-2 against Tim Sylvia. That argument works for me against him being the #2 HW in the world, fresh off beating JOB and Ben fucking Rothwell.

by subo on Jan 21, 2009 12:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I kinda agree with Roach. I think as long as AA can keep the fight standing and stay out of Fedor’s clinch he can put him away. I’m still picking Fedor but AA has a good chance IMO.

by Tonley on Jan 20, 2009 8:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs