“George Foreman Became World Champion at 46”- UFC Heavyweight Andrei Arlovski Wants a Title Shot Before Retirement

Andrei Arlovski is one of the most celebrated UFC fighters. The 52 fight veteran, who has a 32-20 record, has been fighting since 1999.

He beat Tim Sylvia at UFC 51 to win the heavyweight title in 2005 and then defended it twice. Unfortunately, he lost the title to the fighter he earned it from- Tim Sylvia. This happened back in 2006 and since then, ‘The Pit Bull’ has not held the title. Now, 15 years later, he wants a crack at UFC gold and cited why he still has time.

In conversation with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Arlovski spoke about his longevity as a fighter. He said, “George Foreman became world champion at age 46. So, I have like three and a half years.”

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At the start of his career, Arlovski wouldn’t have thought that he would still be fighting in his 40s. While speaking about fighting for UFC, Arlovski said, “I am grateful that I am still with UFC, you know. Thanks to Dana White and to UFC because they keep me, keep me busy, give me fights. Really excited.”

The legendary fighter was born in 1979 and is 42 years. While most fighters retire from fighting by this age, Arlovski wants one more shot at the title. Can he get it?

Andrei Arlovski – Can he get one last shot at the title?

Arlovski, who suffered five consecutive defeats in 2016 and 2017, bounced back and made changes to his game. He is now on a two-fight win streak with four wins in his last 5 outings. 

Arlovski’s last fight was against Carlos Felipe at UFC Vegas 40. He won it by unanimous decision. When talking about it, he said, “He [Carlos Felipe] was super cocky, no doubt, and I almost snapped on the end of the second round.”

A win over Felipe won’t mean anything in the rankings just yet. However, it will help Arlovski secure a fight against someone in the top 15.

If he wants to emulate Foreman, Arlovski will have to put together at least 3-4 more wins, with each opponent presenting a tougher challenge as he rises through the rankings.

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While it is not clear when and against whom his next fight will be, it seems that he is waiting for exciting opponents. He doesn’t seem in a hurry and might be active in the UFC scene for a few more years. Considering that, and his recent form, he can easily work his way to a title bout. 

Who do you think the legendary Andrei Arlovski should face next? Can he earn another title shot before he retires? Let us know in the comments below.