Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski fights this weekend.
Arlovski headlines the prelims of UFC 271 against Jared Vanderaa. The card airs live on ESPN2 and ESPN+ from the Toyota Center in Houston.
The recently-turned 43-year-old Arlovski has been riding high through 2021. He picked up decision victories over Carlos Felipe and Chase Sherman after falling to Tom Aspinall.
But with 54 bouts under his belt, will fight No. 55 be his final one?
If Arlovski is able to secure his 33rd career win and third straight, it would be the perfect time for him to ride off into the sunset as an active competitor.
Sure, Arlovski obviously still has some left in the tank coming into the fight. You don’t just score decision wins off merit inside the Octagon.
But what is left for him to achieve?
He is a former UFC heavyweight and interim UFC heavyweight champion. He is the first Belarusian champion in UFC history.
Arlovski owns the UFC record for most wins in the heavyweight division at 21 and most fights at 36. He also has the highest takedown defense success rate in promotional history.
Will a win over Vanderaa catapult him into a title shot next? No. In the near future even? Doubtful.
Arlovski isn’t close to competing for gold again, and if Jon Jones enters the conversation, he is even further down the pecking order.
But a third consecutive win would give him something to remember for the rest of his life and the chance to go out “on top” in his own way this weekend.
