Andrei Arlovski Discusses UFC 82 — An MMAjunkie.com Interview
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Andrei Arlovski Discusses UFC 82 — An MMAjunkie.com Interview
Daddyprimetime
2/29/08 11:48:59AM
Saturday’s UFC 82 event marks former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski’s first fight in nearly 11 months. The big question is whether it’ll be his last one in the organization.
With just one bout remaining on his current UFC contract, Arlovski becomes a free agent after tomorrow’s fight with Jake O’Brien.
And while there’s been a lot of speculation about a potential rift between the UFC and Arlovski’s management team, neither side has confirmed it lately.
In fact, during Wednesday’s pre-UFC 82 press conference, UFC president Dana White was asked about Arlovski and his whether he’ll re-sign with the organization. Did the UFC’s head honcho want to tag the heavyweight fighter with a parting shot?
Not so much.
“Andrei is a guy we want (in the UFC),” White said. “I think we’ll get it done.“
Arlovski is sure to have plenty of suitors, but it appears the UFC isn’t willing to let him go so easily.
Link
With just one bout remaining on his current UFC contract, Arlovski becomes a free agent after tomorrow’s fight with Jake O’Brien.
And while there’s been a lot of speculation about a potential rift between the UFC and Arlovski’s management team, neither side has confirmed it lately.
In fact, during Wednesday’s pre-UFC 82 press conference, UFC president Dana White was asked about Arlovski and his whether he’ll re-sign with the organization. Did the UFC’s head honcho want to tag the heavyweight fighter with a parting shot?
Not so much.
“Andrei is a guy we want (in the UFC),” White said. “I think we’ll get it done.“
Arlovski is sure to have plenty of suitors, but it appears the UFC isn’t willing to let him go so easily.
Link
SmileR
2/29/08 12:00:35PM
Great interview man!
I'm glad Dana wants him to stay that should be a big plus in his new contract.
Haha i loved the response to this question.
MMAJUNKIE.COM: What do you say to the fans who think O’Brien will simply use his stellar wrestling skills to hold you down and grind out a boring decision?
ANDREI ARLOVSKI: I like to do all my talking in the octagon.
I know thats true an if i was O'brian i'd be getting the fear right about now!
I'm glad Dana wants him to stay that should be a big plus in his new contract.
Haha i loved the response to this question.
MMAJUNKIE.COM: What do you say to the fans who think O’Brien will simply use his stellar wrestling skills to hold you down and grind out a boring decision?
ANDREI ARLOVSKI: I like to do all my talking in the octagon.
I know thats true an if i was O'brian i'd be getting the fear right about now!
Daddyprimetime
2/29/08 12:13:51PM
I think we are gonna see the blood thirsty Arlovski in the Octagon Saturday.
SmileR
2/29/08 12:22:51PM
Posted by Daddyprimetime
I think we are gonna see the blood thirsty Arlovski in the Octagon Saturday.
Me to man, and a blood thirsty Andrei is one of the top HW of all time! I'm so excited for this fight!
Thanks for the article as well man i meant to say it on the post above but forgot!
Does anyone else sort of feel bad for O'brian?
wapttn
2/29/08 2:42:20PM
I've been thinking about arlovski's contract situation for the last while and i couldnt pick out truth from rumour and didnt want to jump to any conclusions.. but at this point I'm getting the feeling that arlovski's days in the ufc are up. If anyone thinks otherwise... let me know you're thoughts
The ufc wanted to lock AA down before he had another fight because this would allow them to sign him for cheaper. The ufc isnt as stacked financially as most would think and they're definately skimping on salaries where applicable. Arlovski didnt want anything to do with a new contract that would leave him being underpaid, so he waited. The ufc didnt mind playing the waiting game, thinking that arlovski would cave sooner or later, but if i'm not mistaken, this is close to the end of his employment contract as well.
The ufc would love to have arlovski stay in the ufc, and i'm sure arlovski would love to be here, but money is a key issue with both parties and they're not seeing eye to eye. Arlovski is going to want a medium length contract for good pay and the ufc will want a long contract for little pay.
I'm pretty sure that the ufc has anticipated that contract negotiations wont be successful and are therefore doing what they can to damage arlovski's marketablity. Arlovski is too tempting for m1 to pick up, and the ufc probably realizes that they wont be able to outbid them.
So what have they done? they put arlovski on the shelf for as long as possible so that the only people who know who he is are the hardcore fans and those who saw him whoop silvia's ass.. how long ago? The fanbase has since doubled, and therefore half of the ufc fans dont care who he is cause all they've seen him to is look boring against werdum. So theres that, and now they put him into an untelevised fight that has a good chance of going down like the frankie edgar/spencer fisher fight.
The ufc seems to be doing their absolute best to make the world forget about arlovski.. which to me means that they dont foresee a resigning.
The ufc wanted to lock AA down before he had another fight because this would allow them to sign him for cheaper. The ufc isnt as stacked financially as most would think and they're definately skimping on salaries where applicable. Arlovski didnt want anything to do with a new contract that would leave him being underpaid, so he waited. The ufc didnt mind playing the waiting game, thinking that arlovski would cave sooner or later, but if i'm not mistaken, this is close to the end of his employment contract as well.
The ufc would love to have arlovski stay in the ufc, and i'm sure arlovski would love to be here, but money is a key issue with both parties and they're not seeing eye to eye. Arlovski is going to want a medium length contract for good pay and the ufc will want a long contract for little pay.
I'm pretty sure that the ufc has anticipated that contract negotiations wont be successful and are therefore doing what they can to damage arlovski's marketablity. Arlovski is too tempting for m1 to pick up, and the ufc probably realizes that they wont be able to outbid them.
So what have they done? they put arlovski on the shelf for as long as possible so that the only people who know who he is are the hardcore fans and those who saw him whoop silvia's ass.. how long ago? The fanbase has since doubled, and therefore half of the ufc fans dont care who he is cause all they've seen him to is look boring against werdum. So theres that, and now they put him into an untelevised fight that has a good chance of going down like the frankie edgar/spencer fisher fight.
The ufc seems to be doing their absolute best to make the world forget about arlovski.. which to me means that they dont foresee a resigning.
Darnok
2/29/08 3:01:01PM
Posted by wapttn
I've been thinking about arlovski's contract situation for the last while and i couldnt pick out truth from rumour and didnt want to jump to any conclusions.. but at this point I'm getting the feeling that arlovski's days in the ufc are up. If anyone thinks otherwise... let me know you're thoughts
The ufc wanted to lock AA down before he had another fight because this would allow them to sign him for cheaper. The ufc isnt as stacked financially as most would think and they're definately skimping on salaries where applicable. Arlovski didnt want anything to do with a new contract that would leave him being underpaid, so he waited. The ufc didnt mind playing the waiting game, thinking that arlovski would cave sooner or later, but if i'm not mistaken, this is close to the end of his employment contract as well.
The ufc would love to have arlovski stay in the ufc, and i'm sure arlovski would love to be here, but money is a key issue with both parties and they're not seeing eye to eye. Arlovski is going to want a medium length contract for good pay and the ufc will want a long contract for little pay.
I'm pretty sure that the ufc has anticipated that contract negotiations wont be successful and are therefore doing what they can to damage arlovski's marketablity. Arlovski is too tempting for m1 to pick up, and the ufc probably realizes that they wont be able to outbid them.
So what have they done? they put arlovski on the shelf for as long as possible so that the only people who know who he is are the hardcore fans and those who saw him whoop silvia's ass.. how long ago? The fanbase has since doubled, and therefore half of the ufc fans dont care who he is cause all they've seen him to is look boring against werdum. So theres that, and now they put him into an untelevised fight that has a good chance of going down like the frankie edgar/spencer fisher fight.
The ufc seems to be doing their absolute best to make the world forget about arlovski.. which to me means that they dont foresee a resigning.
I completely agree with your assessment, however, I have one thing to add.
The UFC also knows that if AA comes out as his old self and kills O'brien in 20 sec they can put the fight on and offer him a larger contract. I don't think there is a lot of distance between what the UFC is offering him and what AA is asking for.
disturbed_fighter
2/29/08 3:34:10PM
i hope he will sign, i really like arlovski
Daddyprimetime
2/29/08 3:34:54PM
I don't think Arlovski is going anywere. I think he will destroy O'Brien and get put back in the lime light on his way to another run for the title.
jomatty
2/29/08 3:40:20PM
man that was the most politically correct interview ive ever read. he really didnt answer a single question. he wouldnt say if the ufc offered him any fights, and said that he has a good working relationship with the ufc. something tells me that is not the entire truth, considering he has been sitting on his butt for so long despite being ready to fight.
CantAndleDaRiddum
2/29/08 6:03:46PM
Posted by jomatty
man that was the most politically correct interview ive ever read. he really didnt answer a single question. he wouldnt say if the ufc offered him any fights, and said that he has a good working relationship with the ufc. something tells me that is not the entire truth, considering he has been sitting on his butt for so long despite being ready to fight.
very true, but arlovski deserves mad props for staying so professional in all his interviews over the past year. the man is a class act & i will watch him fight wherever he goes
WAR AA!
mictlantechutli
2/29/08 6:53:03PM
Posted by jomatty
man that was the most politically correct interview ive ever read. he really didnt answer a single question. he wouldnt say if the ufc offered him any fights, and said that he has a good working relationship with the ufc. something tells me that is not the entire truth, considering he has been sitting on his butt for so long despite being ready to fight.
HAHA! No joke dude! That may as well have been a White House press conference!
prozacnation1978
2/29/08 6:57:44PM
the ufc needs him right now with cro cop leaving, andrei has never taken any shots at them, even in the interview he said to talk to dana and the ufc, doesn't have a problem being on a prelim bout, andre wants to fight in the ufc, dana wants to keep him, i am confident is andre wins in style and i think he is hungry for the belt that the ufc will sign him, if he knocks jake out in the first i don't see why the ufc would not let him fight noguierra for the belt.
jrmmaclassics
2/29/08 7:21:08PM
Very plain interview did we get any information out of this.
SmileR
3/1/08 10:03:17AM
Posted by CantAndleDaRiddum
very true, but arlovski deserves mad props for staying so professional in all his interviews over the past year. the man is a class act & i will watch him fight wherever he goes
WAR AA!
Me to man!
He always conducts himself with dignity and never has a bad word to say about any of his opponents.
He never uses injures as a excuse and giving him the benefit of the doubt with Werdum he has only had 1 other bring fight against Sylvia.
I can also see why he didn't over commit with Werdum as well, with him being a BJJ specialist u could tell he wanted to keep it standing.
The guys a warrior and deserves to be paid the same as Big Tim, Werdum, Randy and Cro Cop.
He's a serious contender for the belt and I think the UFC know they can't afford to let him go.
We'll see if he gets a improved offer after his win tonight.... I'm thinking he will
zephead
3/1/08 10:38:23AM
AA is a professional. A breath of fresh air to hear a fighter not bash his org. that he fights for. Not bash his opponet and just wanting to fight. Leave everything up to his management. No war of words. Major props to AA
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