Andrei Arlovski vs. Frank Mir was the people’s main event for UFC 191. A good ol’ fashioned slobberknocker. A fight for the leading role in one of MMA‘s greatest Cinderella stories. A guaranteed bit of excitement in an otherwise lacking card…or so it seemed, entering fight night.
In reality, it was a battle of 30-something-year-old heavyweights, and it panned out as one would expect.
The first round was a moderately paced striking match, with both men getting their shots in between battles in the clinch. The second was decidedly slower, with the majority of the action coming from Mir’s two-minute span of top control, which saw him land some devastating ground-and-pound to the body. By the third, the mouths were open, and it became a battle of Mir’s stalling tactics against Arlovski’s desperate striking.
When the fight reached the scorecards, an offensive spree in the closing minute wound up being the difference, with Arlovski taking a unanimous decision. So what did we learn from this fight?
Andrei Arlovski Isn’t Going to Get the Title
It’s hard not to root for Arlovski. The former champ was downright depressing to watch in Strikeforce and was knocked out so easily, so frequently and so thoroughly that it was genuinely scary that he was continuing to compete in MMA.
When he beat Travis Browne, everyone’s imagination was suddenly sparked. Could the Belarusian really, truly, end up running all the way back to the title?
This fight, for the most part, closed the door on that question. While Arlovski wasn’t “exposed,” his performance showed that he has a number of flaws (cardio and takedown defense, in particular) that simply won’t fly against top-tier heavyweights such as Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez or Fabricio Werdum.
Frank Mir Actually Still Has It
Don’t have a boring listless fight when Arlovski because he’ll win. Just ask Schaub. #UFC191
— David Bixenspan (@davidbix) September 6, 2015
While the two men were regarded as equals by the commentators, Arlovski worked his way back to the top 10 by knocking off serious competition. Mir? Not so much. In spite of the loss, however, Mir showed a degree of tenacity and steeliness that, alongside his veteran savvy, will keep him competitive against most of today’s heavyweights.
Unfortunately, this loss slams the door on his return to the title picture. That said, he clearly still has a fair bit left in the tank.
What’s Next for Arlovski?
Arlovski is kind of in a strange position. In spite of the win, his proverbial stock likely dropped a bit. That said, his winning streak alone keeps him relevant in the heavyweight title picture.
A match against another heavyweight contender, particularly the winner of Stipe Miocic vs. Ben Rothwell, makes a great deal of sense. So, too, would another winning veteran, like the victor of Roy Nelson vs. Josh Barnett or Mark Hunt, if he gets through Antonio Silva at UFC 193.
What’s Next for Mir?
Fedor Emelianenko, please. The UFC seems to be close to sealing a deal with the legendary Pride champion, and Mir would be an absolutely perfect return opponent. Make it happen!
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