When It Comes to Opponents, UFC Vegas 53’s Andrei Arlovski is Like Nike: “Just Do It”

Las Vegas, NV — At 43, heavyweight legend Andrei Arlovski is one of the last fighters of his era — and he has no plan to pack it in any time soon.

Arlovski (33-20, 2NC) said he still has “fire in my eyes” during this week’s UFC Vegas 53 media day.

There was a point — in 2016, and before that, in 2010 — when many were calling for “The Pitbull” to quit the fight business. Retirement was never a real consideration for the former UFC heavyweight champion however.

So when those calls came back in 2010, they were more motivation than anything else. “Deep inside, I knew I’m not done. It was 100% motivating me, back in 2009, 2010 when I got four losses in a row. It was like, I wanted to shut all those f*cking mouths who said ‘Arlovski’s done,'” he explained on Wednesday, ahead of his fight with Jake Collier. “But I do have to admit, I did do some medical exams, check my head, my body, because it’s important to be punching back at someone, and if your body doesn’t do what you love to do— so yes, I admit, when people started saying ‘Arlovski is done,’ this and that, I said okay, if the doctor is going to say ‘better to leave it right here,’ then of course. I don’t want to kill myself. But otherwise, no.”

Just like there’s been no thought of calling it a career, there’s also no choosing opponents for Arlovski. Which is why he finds himself in a short-notice fight at UFC Vegas 53, against an opponent in Collier who was watching the Belarusian fighter growing up.

“No, I never pick any opponents. I’m always, like Nike, ‘Just Do It,'” Arlovski quipped. “It’s up to my coaches. If they’re not confident or there’s not enough time, they usually recommend [to] me, let’s ask to reschedule, or say no.” But for Arlovski? There’s no turning down fights. “No,” he stated.

It helps that he likes to stay busy. “Staying busy for me is great, not good. It’s great. Because I’m disciplined, I’m following my game plan for life. I understand I still have a few years— not two, maybe three, four, and I need to achieve my goals and just stay busy. Do everything right.”

Arlovski has indeed been staying busy. He fought three times in 2021, and with his second fight of 2022 coming this weekend, he’s on pace to match that at the very least.

Watch the full UFC Vegas 53 media day appearance from Andrei Arlovski above. The event takes place this Saturday, April 30, 2022 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. More coverage can be found below.