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Andrei Arlovski: My Goal Is To Be Champion Again

UFC heavyweight Andrei Arlovski is not planning on slowing down any time soon. The former UFC heavyweight champion claimed gold in the organization in 2005 having originally won the interim title. Yet when Frank Mir was unable to recover in time from injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident, the UFC recognized Arlovski as the undisputed…

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UFC heavyweight Andrei Arlovski is not planning on slowing down any time soon.

The former UFC heavyweight champion claimed gold in the organization in 2005 having originally won the interim title. Yet when Frank Mir was unable to recover in time from injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident, the UFC recognized Arlovski as the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

Arlovski’s now planning to recapture his belt 17 years on from his first triumph.

The 43-year-old spoke to the media ahead of UFC Vegas 53 where he takes on Jake Collier. He revealed his aspirations for the near future.

“Be a champion again, to fight the top fighters,” said Arlovski. “I’m a player of UFC and I’m gonna fight what UFC gonna give me to fight. So, Jake another tough young stud and dangerous, heavy-hitter so I have to be alert, I have to stick with my game plan as usual keep my hands up and move around.”

Arlovski holds records for the most Octagon appearances as well as wins with 37 and 22 respectively in UFC heavyweight history. Nonetheless, ‘The Pitbull’ is more motivated by beating his opponent rather than statistics.

“For me of course, it’s like that’s nice but more important I think it’s for my striking coach Paulina Hernandez. He’s all about these records you know like strikes per round etc, etc, etc. So, for me, it’s more important to beat my opponent.”

Having faced some top prospects throughout his time in the UFC, Arlovski is no stranger to a challenge. The Belarusian seems to relish in showing what he’s capable of despite his age.

‘The Pitbull’ will be looking to extend his current three-fight win streak to four with a win over Collier tonight. He’s showing there is still plenty of fight left in the old dog yet as Arlovski revealed he’s looking to compete for another 3-4 years.

With some of the opponents, he has faced rising to the top of the division including the likes of Francis Ngannou, Tom Aspinall, and Tai Tuivasa, Arlovski will be fully aware of what awaits him should he make a return to title contention.

Do you think Arlovski has what it takes to become a champion once more?

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Francis Ngannou Hints At Money-Motivated Boxing Switch

UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has slammed MMA remuneration, and suggested he could make the switch to boxing in order to be paid what he deserves. Ngannou is undoubtedly the most powerful athlete in the UFC. Since back-to-back losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis in 2018, “The Predator” found hunting mode and went on […]

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UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has slammed MMA remuneration, and suggested he could make the switch to boxing in order to be paid what he deserves.

Ngannou is undoubtedly the most powerful athlete in the UFC. Since back-to-back losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis in 2018, “The Predator” found hunting mode and went on a brutal tear in the division, leaving the bodies of Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik in his wake.

After four-first round knockouts that tallied less than three minutes inside the Octagon, Ngannou secured a second crack at Miocic’s title. After showing his improved takedown defense in the opening round, the Cameroonian did what he does best in the second. He viciously KO’d the champ and had UFC gold wrapped around his waist for the first time.

Despite being one of the most dominant names in the UFC, and holding one of the most coveted titles in the sport, Ngannou has revealed that he’s still not in a great place financially due to the increasingly criticized low fighter pay. During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, the heavyweight king suggested he still has to borrow money to help fund his training camp.

The discussion drifted towards the recent blockbuster trilogy showdown between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder. Both of the heavyweight superstars walked away with multi-million-dollar purses. When asked if the money they earned compared to his own remuneration frustrated him, Ngannou suggested MMA is tougher than boxing, and hinted towards a future money-motivated switch to the ring.

“Well, it [MMA] is more difficult [than boxing]. I feel I should not be needing to borrow money for my training camp. At some point, I’m gonna go after those money. I’m gonna go to that boxing for sure… I’m not challenging the system, I’m just saying my right.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

Having accused the UFC of underpaying him and attempting to discredit his his title, relations between the heavyweight champ and the promotion may not be at their most amicable right now.

Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane will fight to unify the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 270 on Jan. 22, multiple sources confirmed to @bokamotoESPN.

Contracts are not yet signed, however both sides have agreed. The date was first reported by French media outlet La Sueur. pic.twitter.com/NMRbrHEHpg

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 6, 2021

Ngannou’s next pay check looks set to come in a massive unification clash with interim champion Ciryl Gane. The pair are slated to headline UFC 270, which will be the first pay-per-view of 2022, on January 22.

Should Ngannou successfully unify the titles against “Bon Gamin,” and clear out the rest of the weight class, perhaps the much talked about crossover showdown with WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury lies in wait.

How do you think Francis Ngannou would fare inside the squared circle?

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Jon Jones Seeking To Reach 275 Lbs. In Quest To Be Baddest HW Ever

Former CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer is the lead advisor for Jon Jones and has shared a timeline for the return of the former 205-pound king. Richard Schaefer is a well-known boxing promoter and the executive now responsible for negotiating on behalf of Jones. The prominent businessman is said to have brokered hundreds […]

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Former CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer is the lead advisor for Jon Jones and has shared a timeline for the return of the former 205-pound king.

Richard Schaefer is a well-known boxing promoter and the executive now responsible for negotiating on behalf of Jones. The prominent businessman is said to have brokered hundreds of boxing deals. While an agreement has yet to be struck with the UFC superstar, Schaefer has stressed that moving up to heavyweight for Jones is a meticulously planned project.

Recently, Jones posted a video on Instagram showing him pound through a leg workout.

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Fans have not witnessed “Bones” draped in black and gold since February of last year. Many are starting to wonder if Jones will ever make his highly anticipated move to the heavyweight division. Featured on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Schaefer clarified the intentions of the former champion.

“He was very clear from the very beginning: He wants to fight for the heavyweight championship. And so I sat down with Dana, with Hunter. And first, they tried maybe to do a comeback fight, or an interim fight, or this or that,” Schaefer revealed.

Richard Schaefer Expands On Jon Jones Negotiations

When asked about the potential date we might see Jones back in the Octagon, Schaefer explained that the 34-year-old won’t be available for a 2021 return, despite initial hopes.

“First, we were thinking about maybe November or December, but he really then felt that he wants to train. He’s the ultimate professional. I mean, I honestly have only seen once an athlete which is so structured and so strategic in his training, and that’s Floyd Mayweather. And I think that’s why they both are the GOATs. Richard Schaefer said. One is the GOAT of boxing; the other one is the GOAT of MMA. They go about it in a very strategic manner.”

With an emphasis on bulking up in the correct manner, the boxing executive acknowledged that the accolades of Jones are not by happenstance. Schaefer also shared that Jones is already 260 pounds and has a goal of reaching 275 pounds before all is said and done.

“So he said, ‘Look, I’m not gonna be ready in November or December. I want to bulk up. I want to bulk up in a smart way, in a strategic way, not just gain weight and be a big heavyweight. I want to gain the right weight.

By the way, I talked to him yesterday. He’s 260 pounds now…260 muscle, strong, explosive. Schaefer continued. And his goal is to go to 275 and basically be the biggest and baddest heavyweight the UFC has ever seen.”

The world has been waiting patiently for the former champ’s Octagon return, especially since Francis Ngannou began his heavyweight title reign by defeating Stipe Miocic. After negotiations for the megafight stalled, the UFC moved on quickly by offering Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane an opportunity to fight for an interim title at UFC 265. With Gane now the interim titleholder, he is expected to face Ngannou in early 2022. And it sounds like a bigger, badder Jon Jones may be awaiting the winner.

Continue Reading Jon Jones Seeking To Reach 275 Lbs. In Quest To Be Baddest HW Ever at MMA News.

Tag: Heavyweight

Andrei Arlovski: My Goal Is To Be Champion Again

Francis Ngannou Hints At Money-Motivated Boxing Switch

Jon Jones Seeking To Reach 275 Lbs. In Quest To Be Baddest HW Ever

Richard Schaefer Expands On Jon Jones Negotiations

Dana White Hesitant To Confirm If Miocic’s Next Fight Will Be For The Title

Jon Jones Gives The World A Brief Reminder Of What His Goal Is

Tanner Boser Expects Ovince Saint Preux’s Knockout Appeal To Fail