LAS VEGAS — Andrei Arlovski’s career has come full circle.
The former UFC heavyweight champion, who was considered washed up after several knockout losses years back, punctuated his return with a vicious finish of Travis Browne in one of the most thrilling rounds of heavyweight fighting you’ll ever see.
Arlvoski got off to a fast start, was tagged and nearly finished, then rallied for a TKO victory at 4:41 of the first round Saturday night at UFC 187 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“This is the sort of win I’ve looked for,” said Arlovski (24-10, 1 NC). “It was a great fight.”
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Arlovski, who nearly pulled out of the fight due to a calf injury, came out with guns blazing. He rocked Browne backwards with a combo and had him reeling. Several times, Arlovski rocked Browne, but the wobbly Browne somehow managed to weather the storm.
Browne scampered to safety, then nearly ended the fight as he crumpled Arlovski with a giant right hand. But he didn’t have enough in the tank to finish Arlovski off, which proved to be his undoing. Arlovski got back to his feet, rallied, and a huge right hand finally caused the fight to get waved off.
It was the culmination of an interesting fight week, as Arlovski and Browne are friends and have lived together. Arlovski has turned his career around since moving to Greg Jackson’s camp in Albuquerque, where Browne used to train.
With the victory, Arlovski, who held the UFC heavyweight title in 2005-06, has now won six fights in a row, including 3-0 since returning to the UFC. It was his 17th career KO/TKO victory. Browne (17-3-1) has now dropped two of his past three.