The final fight of the UFC 232 prelims and the UFC on FOX era did not end with a bang, as Walt Harris took a split decision from Andrei Arlovski.
Walt Harris is a finishing machine, with all 11 of his career victories ending before the final bell. However, he is 4-6 in the UFC. Andrei Arlovski is a former heavyweight champion but has lost seven of his last nine bouts.
Andrei Arlovski started the fight with a pair of right hands, then Walt Harris clinched up with him. Arlovski hung on until he was able to separate. Harris landed a hard right that had Arlovski reaching for a clinch. Harris continued to push forward landing a body kick then several hooks. Arlovski tried to get creative, throwing a hook kick and a spinning backfist, but could not land either.
Early in the second round, Arlovski was poked in the eye and Harris was given a stern warning from referee Mike Beltran. Harris scored a double leg takedown and Arlovski popped up quickly. The pace of the fight was fairly slow, with neither man going all in on the attack. Harris swung for the body and came up short then ate a body kick from Arlovski as the round expired.
There was a slow start to the final round, as the first significant strikes were thrown a minute in by Harris. Harris clocked Arlovski with a hard right hand, but Pitbull ate it and things finally broke loose. Both fighters were swinging but rarely landing. Arlovski went to a leg kick then landed a combination up top. Punches from both fighters continued to be deflected as neither fighter was unloading. Arlovski landed a right hand and nothing of significance occurred in the waning moments.
Somehow, one judge had Arlovski in all three rounds, but luckily the other two judges gave the right man the nod.
Walt Harris def. Andrei Arlovski by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 27-30)
