Arlovski Likely To Sign With Affliction
- By: Kris Karkoski | May 15, 2008
Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (13-5) will likely sign with Affliction’s upstart MMA promotion as soon as May 19th, according to SI.com.
Arlovski, who fulfilled his UFC contract with a TKO victory over Jake O’Brien at UFC 82 in March, has had his name attached to the fight card for the July 19th event for the better part of a month. He is expected to face off with IFL heavyweight standout Ben Rothwell, whose opponent for the event has not yet been announced.
The UFC retained the exclusive right to negotiate a new contract with “The Pitbull” until May 1st but with that date now passed Affliction appears to have moved in and offered Arlovski a contract the UFC is unwilling to match.
From the report:
May 19 is the day when Andrei Arlovski could sign with Affliction, SI.com has learned. That is, assuming the UFC declines to match what is believed to be a deal that pays the former UFC champion in the low-to-mid six figures for the first of three non-exclusive bouts.
A representative from Arlovski’s camp explained there was “nothing to report,” though continued on to say negotiations with the UFC were ongoing.
UFC President Dana White recently told Yahoo! Sports that, while he hoped to retain Arlovski, there was doubt as to whether that would actually happen.
Should Arlovski and Affliction complete their deal, the Belarusian is expected to appear at next Tuesday’s press conference at the in Century City, Calif., to announce a fight against former International Fight League heavyweight champion Ben Rothwell.
SI.com is also reporting that Affliction declined to comment on rumors of the July 19th event’s undercard airing on Fox Sports Net, though FSN executive George Greenburg was in attendance at a recent Affliction press conference.
For the latest Affliction rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com rumors section.
I hope Arlovski gets a break. If he signs with Affliction and they don’t promote shows and they go under then Arlovski left a sure thing and spotlight with the UFC and may not get quite a nice looking contract to return. Of coarse Dream is looking fairly well and maybe they could pick him up but with the UFC Andre gets top talent to fight and a huge fan base. That being said if Affliction does well then it’s a perfect move as they have signed some great HW guys for him to fight, and in small venues people would want to see another AA vs Silva fight.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:59 am
From what I’ve been reading on the situation the relationship with the UFC hasn’t soured. Sure, they might be a little upset if he ultimately signs elsewhere but I think the fact that their still negotiation says alot and it’s more of a business decision by Arlovski and not that he’s signing somewhere else out of spite.
The contract is non-exclusive, so an eventual return isn’t out of the question and I think his value to the UFC goes down if he fights elsewhere so if it doesn’t work out and he wants to return his offer might be slightly down but if he continues to win, especially against solid competition, his offer may go up because the UFC could sign him as an immediate contender for the heavyweight title.
He has had some boring fights and his recent TKO win didn’t do much to impress me but he has a great following and I don’t mind his personality so I’m looking forward to him getting back in the cage.
May 16th, 2008 at 1:05 am
I am interested to see how Ben R. fares against top talent. He is highly touted and I have seen him dominate lesser opponents but I didnt see the makings of a champ.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Rothwell needed to face a top opponent before the majority of fans would consider him a legit heavyweight and Arlovski definitely fits the bill. The pressure is surely on Rothwell but I think Arlovski wins this one, if it happens.
May 16th, 2008 at 11:34 am
yo if arlovski leaves UFC he will never be seen again. and he is cool he better not leave the UFC
May 16th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I disagree Kyle. The UFC is very tender in the Heavyweight class. Fighters will leave the UFC to take fights they want and make more money.
I believe the heavyweight class will develop outside the UFC and will eventually migrate back to the UFC once better competitors are developed.
I still think the UFC is the place to be, but I dont see it as the end if a fighter leaves.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
A representative from Arlovski’s camp explained there was “nothing to report,” though continued on to say negotiations with the UFC were ongoing.
i said it over and over he’s not going to sighn!!! lol
May 16th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
grr sign*
May 16th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
so the UFC has banned the promotion of AFFLICTION clothing because of their decision to start their own fight league? that’s pretty bush league…
May 19th, 2008 at 4:07 pm