A Bigger Arlovski Looks to Rebound
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 5, 2009 1:29 AM EDT
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PrintDerek Bolender over at MMAmania has an interview with Andrei Arlovski up. There aren't a lot of "groundbreaking statements" but there is some insight into Andrei's mindset on a few topics:
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): After the fight your boxing coach Freddie Roach said that Fedor simply "got lucky" with his punch. Do you feel the same way?
Andrei Arlovski: For me that doesn’t make sense now whether he was lucky or not. He caught me. He knocked me out. This is fact. He got the best of me. Of course I still hurt after this. I am going to chase him everywhere and hope I can one day face him again. Next time I’ll be much smarter than I was before....
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Do you still intend to pursue your pro boxing career as well?
Andrei Arlovski: Yes, after June 6 I will have a match on June 27 at the Staples Center.
...
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You mentioned the weight difference, which is roughly 25 pounds. Do you anticipate that being a factor in the fight?
Andrei Arlovski: You know I am not going to be 237 like I was in January. I put on some weight and I am a little stronger than I was before. I don’t know we’ll see. He’s a good striker and likes to box and we’ll see what happens.
Also, I train a lot in wrestling and jiu-jitsu. If he wants to standup we’ll stand up. If I think I can take him down I’ll take him down. If I have to do a leg lock or choke him of course that’s something I’ll do. If I feel like the opportunity for my hands then I’ll take him out. It just depends on what kind of fight it will be.
I think his honesty in discussing the Fedor fight is refreshing. It would be easy to say "I was winning and he got lucky" but he admits that he got knocked out and there isn't anything else to it but to win and get a rematch.
The two interesting factors here are the boxing and mass aspects. He has to be focusing a fair amount on his boxing if he plans to make his pro boxing debut 3 weeks after fighting Rogers. This is a safer fight for him to maybe not train the other aspects of his game since Rogers likely isn't going to turn this into a ground fight. But still, one has to wonder if he is maybe taking Rogers a little lightly.
Also, sometimes putting on "some weight" for strength is a bad thing for a guy who relies on timing/speed based striking like Andrei. He isn't a "speed" guy, but he relies on fast combinations and overlooked footwork. I've seen plenty of guys decide to "put on some strength" and find that in a fight they're either slower than normal or tire faster because the muscles alter how their body reacts to the pressures of a fight.
I'm slowly finding some intriguing angles to this heavyweight clash. It is still clearly Arlovski's fight to lose though.
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This quote had much more insight
Andrei Arlovski: Yes, I am sorry. It is a bad connection because I am in the trunk. I am driving to workout with all my trainers and I am in the trunk, you know?
He’s been with the same training crew for years and they are known as pranksters. There is a decent shot he was telling the truth.
was it truck?
b/c that would make more sense esp since he said “driving.” Unless he thinks saying weird things just for the heck of it is funny, which it is.
Hehe
As much as I would believe Mike and Dino would try to shove him in the trunk of a car, I certainly hope he was saying truck.
bignerd: Boxing coach Mike Garcia recalled a story where Andrei once hid in an empty hotel room, in the curtains, for 20 or 25 minutes until someone came into the room. That’s serious dedication.
by Michael Hatamoto on Jun 5, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s how you scare the shit out of someone.
by Derek Suboticki on Jun 5, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Arlovski will go for a lower body submission early to try to come out of this fight un-injured for his boxing debut.
I can’t see him wanting to bang for 3 rounds when he has another fight coming up, he could break his hand or get KO’ed, anything can happen.
Two fights 21 days apart will make it virtually impossible to peak for both of them.
I don’t really know what he is thinking with his scheduling, but power to him if he can pull it off.
Don’t sleep on Rogers though, he is a big man, if I had to make a gameplan for Rogers I’d tell him to try to take Arlovski down. Big Country had Arlovski in a lot of trouble before that ridiculous standup.
that aint shit
the snowman fought and won 3X in 21 days.
Monson really should get more respect – I thought Rothwell won that fight, but then he beats Kharitonov… he’s a machine.
by Derek Suboticki on Jun 5, 2009 2:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, but only because Kharitonov underestimated Monson’s power. He looked horrible against Rothwell. Monson just needs some standup and a better work ethic. From what I’ve heard, ATT gets a little upset with him over missing training sessions, etc.
Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com
by Leland Roling on Jun 5, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Monson is a big favourite of mine, but he’s so damn one dimensional. He’s a top control power grappler, with some takedowns, and that’s about it. He can’t strike to set up his takedowns, and he often ends up stuck in the clinch or on his back after trying and failing to get the fight to the ground. He doesn’t have the sick sweeps of a Damian Maia so just pulling guard doesn’t seem to help him much, and I can’t remember the last time he got a sub from the bottom… It sucks because he clearly has skill and absolutely ghastly strength. With his compact frame and power, he could be a real threat if he could get inside and impose his game on people, but with the way that fighters are so well rounded now, it’s just too easy to counter what he does.
/derail
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
What about medical suspensions? Do they apply cross sport since the same Athletic commission would be handling both?
That was Werdum totally overlooking dos Santos which I hope Arlovski is NOT doing
The thing with Werdum is that his standup is not that great, and dos Santos found that glaring hole in it which was that Werdum looks down when he strikes.
Stylistically, Arlovski just has more tools to win than Rogers. Rogers is extremely raw in that he has potential for the future, but his abilities right now could use improvement. While Strikeforce is trying to make their Heavyweight Division deeper, it just goes to show that it needs A LOT more talent to fill when a fighter goes from fighting Humphrey then right after that, Arlovski.
This doesn't do it for you?
Alistair OVereem
Fabricio Werdum
Brett Rogers
Lavarr “Big” Johnson
Daver Herman
Roger Gracie
Abongo Humphrey
Andrei Arlovski (loan from Affliction)
And people say the UFC HW division sucks.
There’s no comparison.
by Derek Suboticki on Jun 5, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
You gotta stop counting Roger until he actually shows up for a fight.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Jun 5, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Seems like the margin of error for Arlovski is pretty small. I think he should win but if Rogers lands at all its over.
I dislike Matt Hughes.
Yep, I think this is similar to the profX mcfedries fight
In which prof x has all the tools and is more technical than his opponent but all mcfedries needed was to land one good blow and he takes it..
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 5, 2009 3:29 AM EDT up reply actions
I still think people rate Rogers too highly. Currently his biggest win is over a guy who got KO’d by Butterbean. Arlovski is in a different solar system to any of Rogers’ previous opponents, the step up in competition for Rogers is ridiculous
Yeah...
I mean, it’s a huge step up. And of course Arlovski SHOULD get the W.
What has been bothering me lately is that whenever anyone in MMA takes a step up in competition or talks about WANTING to take a step up, the fans act like somehow challenging yourself athletically is the worst thing in the world. I get that taking a fight that is a likely loss is maybe a career setback. But when did it become a bad thing for a fighter to have the balls to want to see just how good he is?
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 5, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
You know what? I wouldn’t be suprised if Rogers KO’s Andre within the first moments of the fight… I think Rogers can get in a quick victory by merely landing a quick shot to Arlovski’s frail chin. Don’t get me wrong, AA is favorited, but lets not forget he has tasted the canvas SEVERAL times.
by MiCe on Jun 5, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
This was a nice prediction.
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
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