Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski is in talks to face Frank Mir at UFC 191 in September, but he’s hungry for revenge.
With chatter that former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko is making a return to fighting, Arlovski says he wants the first crack.
“I would love to fight him,” Arlovski said Thursday on his live chat. “I would love to have a rematch but I don’t know. It’s up to the UFC. If Dana White is going to sign him, great.”
Arlovski isn’t so sure Emelianenko plans to sign with one of the major American MMA promotions, but he has an idea about how a second fight between them would go down.
Arlovski fought Emelianenko in 2009 at Affliction: Day of Reckoning and was arguably dominating the first round. Arlovski was out-landing Emelianenko in strikes 15-5, but threw an uncharacteristic flying knee at the cornered Russia. Emelianenko countered with an overhand right sent Arlovski crashing to the mat unconscious.
“I’m going to f**k him up,” said Arlovski. “I’m not going to jump with that f***ing stupid flying knee. It’s going to be a different match.
“Why did I jump that stupid flying knee? I still can’t figure out why. I still don’t have a clear answer for that. When I see Dana White next time I’m going to ask him, ‘Please, please if you’re going to sign Emelianenko just give me a rematch. Please, please.'”
As for Mir, Arlovski says he’s excited about the fight if it ends up getting booked. Arlovski was set to be Mir’s first challenge to his heavyweight crown 10 years ago, but a motorcycle accident forced the champ to withdraw.
Arlovski scored a first-round submission over Tim Sylvia at UFC 51 in February 2005 to become the interim heavyweight champion. Mir was slated to return to finally face Arlovski later that October, but was stripped of the title due to his severely broken leg and injured knee. Arlovski went on to knock out Paul Buentello in 15 seconds at UFC 55.
“He’s on a winning streak, I’m on a winning streak and we were supposed to fight in 2007[sic],” said Arlovski. “Definitely he’s tough and I’m very excited if it’s going to happen.”
With Mir scoring back-to-back KO’s over Antonio Silva and Todd Duffee in 2015, Arlovski knows he’s not facing the same fighter he was booked against a decade ago.
“Absolutely not,” said Arlovski. “He’s much tougher, I think, right now. A more dangerous fighter. He’s not scared to brawl and it’s going to be a great match.
“He’s tough. He has power in his hands and he’s a black belt in Jiu Jitsu. He’s no joke. If I’m going to fight him I have to be prepared. On the ground, he’s a king. He’s much, much better than me. It’s no doubt.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Rowdy. UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey discusses the upcoming bout with Bethe Correia, why she’s planning on leaving the belt in Brazil after UFC 190, retirement, movies, Holly Holm and Miesha Tate recent victories, and much more.
Dang. John Dodson says his teammate former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones ‘wasn’t the perfect angel that everyone thought he was to be.’ ‘You guys keep on thinking that he’s supposed to be like Hannah Montana, but really he was Miley Cyrus.’
‘Break her jaw.’ Bethe Correia says she’s gotten her own motherly advice on how to win Saturday night at UFC 190. ‘Please, finish this fight in 10 seconds. Knock her out.’
Co-Main. UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum says he wants to serve as the co-main event to featherweight champion Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor. ‘Heavyweights are important, of course, but a fight like this will draw more attention than a rematch with Cain Velasquez.’
Jacare. Ronaldo Souza becomes the first Brazilian UFC fighter to sign an exclusive deal with Reebok.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 190 media day staredowns.
Media day highlights from UFC 190.
Brazilians seem to be pretty big Ronda Rousey fans.
BJJ Scout’s quick breakdown of Ronda clinch work.
Jon Jones speaks to the kids at the Boys & Girls’Club.
TTTHS.
Long watches.
World Series of Fighting 22 #WSOF22 Press Conference
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TWEETS
Could be.
I am going to retire undefeated. This Bethe is just one step on the way. #UFC190 #Aug1st #andSTILL pic.twitter.com/o4VS3nDWWz
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) July 30, 2015
OK.
7 is cute these days.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 30, 2015
8 figures a knock, thanks.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 30, 2015
Beef.
@POSTERBOYJM I need a new rug for my house. You’ll look really nice on the floor when ppl visit. I’ll tell them it was a easy kill…
— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) July 30, 2015
@Anthony_Rumble your resume is good, but know that u are facing a different beast as u have before and this ain’t no cartoon. Shit is real
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) July 30, 2015
@ZackMwekassa The only thing you wil KNOCK..is on doors begging for some change after i end your career, you know..the one you dont have
— Gokhan Saki (@gokhantherebel) July 30, 2015
@PatrickyPitbull I just said @BellatorMMA should make it a fight for a title shot. I’m trying to help you get to this ass whooping
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) July 30, 2015
Really Meek? Really that’s what you came with… You brought that butter knife to a damn gun fight.
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) July 31, 2015
Meek had some good points but it mostly reminded me of his battling vids where he was off topic a lot, then on, but mostly off…
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) July 31, 2015
Any guesses?
My fight contract is in I can’t say who or when yet, super excited for my resurgence into a new division #BIGNAMEFIGHT #Instantclassic #Viva
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) July 31, 2015
Cool.
@ScottCoker Thanks a ton for giving me the OPPORTUNITY so that @Water4 & I can keep creating opportunities like THIS https://t.co/gXUmPsL3LT
— Justin Wren MMA (@TheBigPygmy) July 30, 2015
Cuttin’.
275 comming to brazil, 268 right now, will wake up 266 https://t.co/olvBJS9lsz
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) July 31, 2015
Eat up.
The last dinner pic.twitter.com/zLhwqqJTgO
— George Roop (@GeorgeRoop) July 31, 2015
This Week in Struggle.
Selfie ALERT! Me and @StefanStruve media day in Rio. pic.twitter.com/dN6qh82qqy
— Sean Shelby (@seanshelby) July 30, 2015
It’s been an emotional day. Deciding lunch… @five_guys to @ChipotleTweets to Kinfolk BBQ (closed) and back to Chipotle. #FatKidProblems
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) July 27, 2015
“don’t leave it in the hands of the judges” is a poor excuse. Ur fighting the best & toughest. Shouldn’t have incompetent judges #crooks
— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) July 27, 2015
To say I had 0 sub att. Shows they don’t know a twister or anything about @dennyprokopos attacks from single leg ride (truck) #crookedjudges
— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) July 30, 2015
WTF – People I have never met asking if I can get them free tickets to #UFC190 – um, no.
— DrAnnMaria (@DrAnnMaria) July 29, 2015
Broke the LCD in my MacBook Pro and cracked the screen on my iPad mini in the same day.
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) July 29, 2015
The wrestling room was on fire Tuesday night. Soooo hot, I was sweating even before we actually started training. pic.twitter.com/lahW1K2hIR
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) July 29, 2015
Fuck knee injuries only thing I want to go do and I can’t go train, spar or fucking run. #smh
— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) July 31, 2015
Well this is what happens when you let a guy play with his nunchucks in the gym when it’s empty! @ImpactMMAaz pic.twitter.com/2X6G0wIH6x
— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) July 29, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (July 30 2015)
Jan Blachowicz out, Anthony Johnson vs. Jimi Manuwa at UFC 191
Shawn Jordan vs. Ruslan Magomedov at UFC 192
Josh Burns vs. Justin Wren at Bellator 141
Takeya Mizugaki vs. George Roop at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson
Jon Fitch vs. Yushin Okami at WSOF 24
Blagoy Ivanov vs. Derek Mehmen at WSOF 24
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via theTruthProphet.
The Story of a “Murderer” – Watch Your Back Dana White
Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva: How Does A Man Whose Only Tool Is An Axe, See The World?
People’s choice of words tells us a great deal about who they are, and what is important to them.
What does Wanderlei Silva Want? Respect!
Wanderlei at every opportunity adamantly demands respect! Without further speculating as to why respect is so important to him, we can safely assume that he is a proud man and wants to be needed and appreciated. (Note: there are many fighters who want to be respected just like the rest of us, however few who obsess about the word to the extent Wanderlei Silva does). Again through his choice of words, “The Axe Murderer” gives us yet another glimpse into his life at this encounter with Chael Sonnen, where the word respect comes up again and again, however it is the conclusion of the video that caught my attention the most. Wanderlei Silva chooses to quote an expression in Portuguese which translates into “people who show respect don’t lose their teeth” – Indeed, ladies and gentlemen respect under the direct threat of violence!
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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