Rothwell, never more than a contender in the UFC, had still been a popular fighter, and appeared to have found a new lease on his fighting life in bareknuckle, going 4-0 for BKFC.

Arlovski, 47, was 1-0 in bareknuckle (and 1-0 as a boxer) as he entered a title fight over 20 years after winning the UFC crown. Ageless wonder indeed. Though at 44, Rothwell was no spring chicken himself.

The pair had met twice previously, with Arlovski defeating “Big Ben” twice in MMA.

Not a lot of feeling out, as the two big men got right down to work in the Knuckle Mania VI main event. Arlovski had Ben in trouble early, landing a hook and backing him up to the ropes. A couple of clinches followed, then Rothwell swung wild and missed. Arlovski punched his way in, finding more success. Rothwell, however, connected to the side of the head with a right hand. Another right hand would see Rothwell stagger back prior to the bell to end round one.

The second started scrappy, with both men firing frequently. Rothwell landed a counter, but Arlovski repeatedly found a home for his right hand. “The Pitbull” had his jab going as well, and looked to be the faster man. Rothwell was cut open, blood running down his forehead and around his eye.

The back half of round two was all Arlovski, with Rothwell frequently under fire. And starting round three, the ringside physician was brought in to check the damage on Rothwell, particularly around his eye, though he was allowed to continue.

Arlovski had plenty of pep in his step in the third, driving forward repeatedly, working his right hand with his jab. Big Ben was bleeding again, face a crimson mask. That brought the doctor in again, and this time, he called it. Tons of damage on Rothwell, while Arlovski appeared to barely have a scratch. Solid movement for a 47-year old who clearly came prepared.

The ageless Andrei Arlovski does it again, earning the BKFC heavyweight title at the promotion’s flagship event.

Official Result: Andrei Arlovski def. Ben Rothwell by TKO (doctor’s stoppage), Round 3, 1:14

The post BKFC KnuckleMania 6: Andrei Arlovski Bloodies Ben Rothwell, Wins Heavyweight Title appeared first on Cageside Press.

The skirmish in the concession stands has wound up being more talked about than the headliner itself, given what a bad night of boxing Paul vs. Joshua was (though somehow, Andrew Tate managed to embarrass himself even worse the following evening).

Now, Doherty is claiming that Arlovski actually started the confrontation, despite video footage showing the exact opposite – Doherty bumping into the former UFC heavyweight champ, twice his size, then having a few words. Doherty’s denials run in the face of the fact that sparking confrontations is his exact MO, which Youtube has somehow allowed to continue over the years, despite a dangerous number of copycats and the possibility of real harm.

“How did I start the Andrei Arlovski fight? Watch the video u (sic) old twitter f*cks u (sic) guys just point the finger at the kid who’s half ur (sic) age and way richer than u (sic). I would do the same tho,” Doherty wrote in a brief statement on social media site Twitter/X.

If nothing else, it’s clear Doherty doesn’t have an assistant writing his tweets for him. In any case, anyone who has watched the video probably knows what’s up. Arlovski, however, addressed the matter on his Instagram Story on Sunday, fielding questions from numerous fans, several of whom thanked the heavyweight for rag-dolling several members of Doherty’s crew, while Doherty himself hid behind his bodyguard.

Arlovski did, however, deny that he had beat anyone from Doherty’s crew up, despite being seen landing multiple punches on at least three assailants, including the Youtuber’s rather large bodyguard, who quickly seemed to realize he was out-gunned.

“First of all, I didn’t beat anyone, I just stopped the threat. They were threatening me, my wife, my kid and I had another friend [present],” stated Arlovski. “So I did what I was supposed to do, what every man’s supposed to do. Stop the threat.”

He’d go on to add in response to a second fan that “I didn’t beat them. I just stopped the threat like I said.”

Asked why he was attacked, Arlovski suggested that “I guess because they were looking for content for their website, and I guess I was a victim.”

“They thought maybe it’s going to be easy content for Youtube. Maybe that’s why.
Maybe I’m old, maybe because it was like three idiots and a big bodyguard. Actually you know what it’s kind of weird, because I saw him walking but I didn’t pay attention, that he might be with them. And he kind of landed one punch. So I have to be more alert and pay attention to more people who are around. That’s the lesson.”

When it was suggested he take out the bodyguard in question, in more explicit terms, Arlovski replied saying “That guy, he was sneaky. He sucker punched me and I didn’t accept that f*cking punch, to be honest with you.”

Still, he held back on calling the altercation an actual fight. “Fight? They just tried to film some content I guess.” And he had a rather underhanded compliment, albeit a well deserved one, for Jack Doherty. “It was a successful escape. He was successfully hiding and running away, behind his bodyguard. He did a great job.”

Andrei Arlovski will be in a sanctioned fight in February, when he faces fellow UFC alum “Big” Ben Rothwell for the BKFC heavyweight championship.

The post Arlovski, Youtuber Respond to Altercation at Paul-Joshua Event appeared first on Cageside Press.

Arlovski was in the house for the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight, with his own BKFC heavyweight title fight against Ben Rothwell coming up in February.

At one point, near the arena’s concession stands, Arlovski can be seen bumping shoulders with a spectator later identified as Jack Doherty, a Youtube creator with over 15 million followers. Known as “The Internat’s Favorite Punching Bag” for generally embarrassing behaviour including trolling and sparking confrontations only to hide behind bodyguards, Doherty may or may not have set this up as a stunt, but what followed was completely predictable.

Arlovski, who has been fighting professionally since 1999, immediately took care of Doherty’s larger body guard, then tossed around two other members of Doherty’s entourage essentially like they were small children. Which, in comparison to the former UFC champion, they quite literally are.

Rather bafflingly, one of those individuals actually threw the first punch. Possibly too young to recognize just who they stepping up against, if they didn’t stage the entire thing for views.

The brawl, such as it was, was rather one-sided in the end and caught on camera. Doherty can later be heard telling his entourage to back off as they retreat, flipping off the heavyweight.

Jack Doherty gets his friends beat up by Andrei Arlovski for bumping into him after the Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua fight. pic.twitter.com/NJXnWJkm84

— Don’t Suspend Me (@__OnlyTruth_) December 20, 2025

Andrei “The Pibtull” Arlovski faces “Big” Ben Rothwell, a fellow UFC alum, for the BKFC heavyweight crown on February 7, 2026 at BKFC KnuckleMania 6.

The post Former UFC Heavyweight Champ in Brawl at Paul-Joshua Card in Miami appeared first on Cageside Press.

After picking up finishes in the Dirty Boxing Championship and then bare-knuckle boxing under the BKFC banner earlier this year, Arlovski, 46, scored his third victory of 2025 under the Misfits Boxing banner on Sunday.

Paired up against social media celeb Kelechi ‘Kelz’ Dyke, who was just a kid when Arlovski claimed UFC gold, the heavyweight got the job done in the fourth and final round. “The Pitbull flatlines Kelz in the final round! Andrei Arlovski still has dynamite power,” was the call on the DAZN broadcast.

A deadly right hand felled Kelz, leaving no doubt as to the winner. A six foot six 27-year old, Kelz was 1-1 as a boxer prior to the Misfits Duel: Cracra vs Fox card in Nashville, Tennessee.

46-year-old Andrei Arlovski scores the KO in his boxing debut 👏 @MisfitsBoxing (via @DAZNBoxing) pic.twitter.com/wD1DDlGpNU

— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) November 9, 2025

Andrei Arlovski defeated Tim Sylvia in February of 2005 to claim an interim heavyweight title in the UFC, defended it, was promoted to undisputed champ, and then defended that title that October. He’d end up losing the belt, to Sylvia of all people, and eventually left the UFC to fight Fedor Emelianenko – the start of a rocky four-fight skid.

After turning things around, he returned to the UFC in 2014 and was a staple of the heavyweight division until last year, when he was let go off another four-fight skid.

At 46, however, Arlovski clearly remains dangerous.

The post UFC Legend Andrei Arlovski Scores Knockout in Pro Boxing Debut appeared first on Cageside Press.

Following a split decision loss against Martin Buday at UFC 303 on Saturday, promotion CEO and President Dana White confirmed that Arlovski’s time in the company had come to an end. A veteran of 42 trips to the fabled octagon, “The Pitbull” was on his second stint with the promotion, but had lost four straight, enough that at age 45, the UFC opted to send him packing.

Still, the seemingly ageless Arlovski, still competitive against men half his age, doesn’t sound deterred. On a post to his official Instagram page, Arlovski (34-24, 2NC) suggested it wasn’t about wins at the end of the day.

“What makes me #GREAT aren’t the 34 VICTORIES, what makes me GREAT are the 20+ times before Saturday night, before UFC 303 – that I figured out how to become victorious,” Arlovski wrote, adding another hashtag – “#stillFUCKINrollin” – at the end.

He went on to state that “I didn’t want to finish my journey in the UFC like that, but it is what it is… And yes, I’m not BITCHING, just wondering how come??? Soooo, my CHAPTER in the UFC is closed, BUT MY BOOK IS NOT FINISHED YET‼️‼️‼️ Will see what’s around the corner.” Arlovski, tagging his management team, added “it’s more stories to tell.”

This is not the first time Arlovski has gone on an 0-4 stretch in his career. He lost five straight between January 2016 and June 2017, only to bounce back with a couple of wins, then lost four more in 2018-19 (one overturned to a No Contest) before posting a 7-2 record including a four-fight win streak.

From 2009 to 2011, Andrei Arlovski lost four fights while still in his prime. In a career dating back to 1999, if the former UFC heavyweight champ has proved anything, it’s to never count him out.

The post Andrei Arlovski’s UFC Chapter Closed, But “Book Not Finished Yet” appeared first on Cageside Press.

Arlovski, a former champ and future UFC Hall of Famer, had reinvented himself late in his career, working with Jackson-Wink MMA to employ a more technical, less brawl-heavy style, extending his longevity as a result.

Early on, the pair grappled along the cage, Buday putting his weight on “The Pitbull.” Some heavy punches to Arlovski’s side were landing, but nothing that was doing any serious damage. What Buday was doing, however, was sapping the weight of Arlovski, who occasionally came off the cage, only to be driven right back to it. The entirety of the opening round played out in this fashion, with the fight feeling as if it hadn’t even kicked off yet.

Arlovski fired a kick up high early in the second, but soon enough Buday had him backed up, firing an uppercut and forcing the former champ to circle out. This time, it was Arlovski putting Buday on the fence, with both men firing knees. Back at center, Arlovski fired a leg kick, and Buday answered with a left hand. A clinch at center led to a battle for head position, with Arlovski finally putting Buday up against the cage again. Buday tried to reverse, only to be blocked; Arlovski fired a knee.

Headed back to center again, Arlovski doubled up his jab. Things opened up just a bit, with Buday landing a right; Arlovski again put the younger man on the fence, to the displeasure of the crowd. The ref, finally having seen enough, restarted the action with 30 seconds left in the round; Arlovski got a little busier, in a better round for 45-year old.

Between rounds, Andrei Arlovski’s corner told him to go hard and give it everything in the final frame of a fight that could very well have been one round apiece to that point. In the opening seconds of round three, Arlovski connected with a low kick. His jab pushed Buday back. Buday re-engaged, but had to contend with that jab again. Buday landed a jab of his own, and ate a knee as they clinched up. Still clinched up at center, Buday got busy with punches and knees.

Taking things back to where he’d found success in round two, Arlovski put Buday on the fence. This time, Arlovski ate a low blow, forcing him to his knees while the ref paused to fight to allow him to recover. About 90 seconds later, he was ready to continue, with the two starting with a little more energy behind them. Buday landed an uppercut, they clinched, and while Martin Buday had Arlovski on the fence, the vet was able to reverse. Arlovski threw a knee, Buday a shoulder strike. Again, within seconds, ref Mark Smith restarted the action. That allowed Buday to get some offense going, but it was Arlovski getting the best reaction of the night from the crowd with a spinning back fist that was on-target, but blocked.

Arlovski appeared to look for a trip in a clinch in the final minute, but couldn’t land it. Instead, he drove Buday into the cage again, firing a weak spinning back kick ahead of the final bell.

On the scorecards, Buday would take a split decision. And if there was any thought of Andrei Arlovski hanging up the gloves, it didn’t happen, at least not in the cage, as he made his exit without laying down the gloves.

Official Result: Martin Buday def. Andrei Arlovski by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

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The heavyweight is set to face Martin Buday on June 15, 2024 at a Fight Night event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Buday confirmed the booking on social media on Monday, following an initial report by MMA Junkie.

Arlovski (34-23, 2NC) has dropped bouts to Marcos Rogerio de Lima, Don’Tale Mayes, and most recently, Waldo Cortes-Acosta. But “The Pitbull” has found himself in such dire circumstances before, running up a four fight skid from 2009 to 2011, and a five fight skid in his second (and current) UFC run, from 2016 to 2017.

Of course, father time is undefeated, and Andrei Arlovski is now the oldest athlete on the UFC roster.

As for Buday (13-2), the 2021 Contender Series winner had won his first four fights inside the octagon, prior to falling to Shamil Gaziev this past December.

The UFC’s June 15, 2024 event does not yet have a main event announced or reported. The following match-ups have been reported for the card:

• Jimmy Flick vs. Nate Maness
• Adam Fugitt vs. Josh Quinlan
• Garrett Armfield vs. Brady Hiestand
• Julia Polastri vs. Josefine Lindgren Knutsson
• Carli Judice vs Gabriella Fernandes
• André Muniz vs. Ikram Aliskerov
• Andrei Arlovski vs. Martin Buday

The post Andrei Arlovski Looks to Snap Skid in June 15 UFC Bout with Martin Buday appeared first on Cageside Press.

Johnny Walker

Johnny Walker’s chin issues came back to haunt him in his rematch with Magomed Ankalaev in UFC Vegas 84’s main event. After holding his own in the first, the second round saw Walker unconscious on the canvas, ending his recent streak of success. His three fight winning streak before the first Ankalaev fight still got him into the top end of the light-heavyweight rankings, but he will need to string a few wins together now if he wants a title shot.

Now is the time for Walker to have another rematch, this time against Khalil Rountree Jr. In his UFC debut in 2018, Walker KOed Rountree in impressive fashion. Khalil has reinvented himself since then and strung together a long winning streak, like Johnny. He now finds himself ranked 8th at light-heavyweight and in position to fight a top contender like Walker.

Walker’s Next Fight: Khalil Rountree Jr. 2

Gabriel Benitez

Gabriel Benitez fell to 7-7 in the UFC when he lost to the ageless wonder Jim Miller in Saturday’s co-main event. Benitez has had a mostly successful UFC career, but has clearly slowed down with age and is now 2-5 in his last seven bouts. Every fight in the UFC lightweight division is difficult, and that will not change in Benitez’s next outing.

Yet there are other matchups out there which may be more winnable, such as Yanal Ashmouz. Ashmouz is 1-1 in the UFC, and youth against experience would be the narrative going into this fight. If Benitez loses this one, then his job may start to be in jeopardy. Similarly, Ashmouz will need to stay above the .500 line in order to start his UFC run off right.

Benitez’s Next Fight: Yanal Ashmouz

Ricky Simon

Ricky Simon lost his second fight in a row, falling to Mario Bautista by decision, at UFC Vegas 84 on Saturday. After a five-fight winning streak got Ricky into the top fifteen at bantamweight, this second loss in a row may send him out of the rankings entirely after coming into the fight ranked thirteenth. Even if he holds onto a number next to his name he will have to fight another unranked challenger next.

One of the hottest rising prospects at bantamweight right now also fought on this card, as a matter of fact. Farid Basharat impressed as he outdueled fellow talented prospect Taylor Lapilus to a decision victory. Farid, just like his brother, is undefeated in the UFC and as a professional, and is one of the fighters who may be deserving of a shot at a ranked opponent. His well-rounded style also perfectly compliments Simon’s, which should make for a diverse and entertaining fight between them, just like Simon vs Bautista.

Simon’s Next Fight: Farid Basharat

Phil Hawes

Phil Hawes is an enormously talented wrestler and a good technical striker at his best. He generally has a good game plan for his fights, but when he fights hard hitters it all comes undone because of his inability to absorb the biggest shots. He has been knocked out in all but one of his career losses, many of which he was winning until an opponent was able to catch him off-guard.

Due to his skills, Hawes would be an excellent coach, and after this recent fight there were many figures calling for him to retire and become just that. He has now been knocked out three times in a row, and four times in his last five fights. All of those losses have come in the first round and its getting to a point where its uncomfortable, because fans know what to expect and the shots are hurting him worse each time. Phil crying on the mat after waking up from being unconscious added to the discomfort. Phil Hawes can have a great career in martial arts, but it is time to think about retiring from being an active fighter.

Hawes’ Next Fight: Retirement

Andrei Arlovski

Andrei Arlovski is impressing a lot of people by still showing up and collecting a sizable paycheck at forty-four years of age in the UFC’s heaviest division, but that does not mean his fights are worth that bill to the promotion. As recently as 2022 he was on a winning streak, but now after three losses in a row where he did not put on a good performance it is time for him, too, to think about retirement. With his expensive contract the UFC also will be thinking about cutting him – if it financially makes sense.

There are a series of heavyweights who the former champion could potentially compete against however, such as Chris Barnett. Barnett always puts on a show with his wild style and fun personality, and it may be just what is needed to inject some life into an Arlovski fight.

Arlovski’s Next Fight: Chris Barnett

The post What’s Next: UFC Vegas 84 Losers appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I’m not talking to him because (he made me mad) in the second round. You see the guy try kicking my mouthpiece. I respect him, but that time no respect no more. My movement is my movement. My salsa, merenge, everything. I’ll be there for Salsa Boy,” Cortes-Acosta told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.

“My respect for the guy every time, but I win tonight.”

There we some antics Cortes-Acosta pulled including dancing in front of Arlovski, and talking some trash. At one point his mouthpiece fell out and Arlovski attempted to kick it in frustration.

After beating a former champion Cortes-Acosta took aim at the current UFC heavyweight champion.

“Yes I have a fighter in mind. Jon Jones. One of the fighters that has been known for his movement, for everything. Maybe we’ll see Salsa Boy grow little by little and learn how to move like Jon Jones,” he said.

As for what’s next Cortes-Acosta hopes to get a fight on UFC Mexico City on Feb 24. Headlined by Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval it’s Mexico since 2019.

“I want to fight in Mexico City. I love Mexico. My family is Mexican-Dominican. Mexican fans want me, I want to be there,” he said.

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Waldo Costes-Acosta above.

* Some translation done by Cageside Press.

The post Waldo Cortes-Acosta Wants On UFC Mexico City Card appeared first on Cageside Press.

Arlovski entered the fight all of a month shy of his 45th birthday, with the former heavyweight champ the elder statesman of both the division, and promotion as a whole.

His opponent, “Salsa Boy” Cortes-Acosta, had just one career defeat, and had never been stopped.

Both big men chose to change stances back and forth early in the fight, with Arlovski targeting the legs of Cortes-Acosta — an approach that had been utilized by several of the former baseball players’ opponents, to varying degrees of success. Arlovski also went upstairs with a kick that was blocked, while Cortes-Acosta answered back with a jab.

Andrei Arlovski doubled up on his jab next trailing that with a cross. Cortes-Acosta went to the body, then exploded forward with a kick only for Arlovski to evade the attack. “The Pitbull” had less success dodging a fastball from Cortes-Acosta a moment later, but Arlovski was able to circle off the cage. Cortes-Acosta, however seemed to be finding his range with his right hand. It was a left, however, that clipped Arlovski towards the final minute, though he seemed to eat it well and came back with a leg kick, then a spinning back fist. Late in the round, Waldo Cortes-Acosta began throwing heavy leather, but Arlovski bobbed, rolled, and managed to avoid taking much damage.

It was Arlovski leading with his jab in the second, while Cortes-Acosta did a little showboating, putting on a little dance. Arlovski betrayed no emotion — not that he ever shows much — and stuck to the game plan. More dancing and a little hip shake came from Waldo. Then came an opened-handed slap, with the ref pointing out that the move was technically allowed. Arlovski answered back with a combination.

Halfway into the round, and Cortes-Acosta fanned on a spinning back fist. He then charged forward, landing a left hook, but Arlovski avoided all of the follow-ups. More big swings came towards the end of the round for Cortes-Acosta, and while not everything landed, enough was getting through to give him an edge.

Round three saw Andrei Arlovski continue switching stances and chopping the legs. But a right hand by Cortes-Acosta appeared to hurt the ex-champ near the midway mark. A haymaker by the Dominican fanned, and Arlovski landed a spinning back fist, apparently back to normal. More fireworks came with 90 seconds to go, as Arlovski complained of an eye poke that was missed by the ref. He would survive, and kick the body, only for Cortes-Acosta to motion like a matador, continuing to showboat. Arlovski landed a spinning back kick to the midsection with 10 seconds remaining, and Cortes-Acosta had a few words for the legend following the final horn.

Official Result: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Andrei Arlovski by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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