Will Arlovski ever be HW champ again?

jrdenn · 05-07-2007, 11:29 AM

Has Arlovski lost his edge? His killer instinct that made him so ferocious? Will it ever return?

In his last 3 fights he hasn't looked the same at all. Ever since the Sylvia KO he has been a different fighter. More subdued, timid, cautious, et cetera. Before the Sylvia KO he had never went the distance. Since suffering the KO 2 of his last 3 fights went to the judges.

It's strange that the Sylvia KO has affected Arlovski this way. The reason it's strange is because Arlovski was KO'd by Rizzo and Ricco consecutively. Even more strange is that those KO defeats came when Arlovski was extremely young!

The good thing for Arlovski is his age, at 28 years old he can turn this ship around. The physical tools are all there at his disposal. It is the mental part of the game Arlovski has to overcome. Get back to the aggressive stalking killer he once was.

Will the "Pitbull" ever be the HW champ again?

Mud Flaps · 05-07-2007, 11:31 AM

I think he could possibly beat GG or Randy. So, maybe.

Fedor Skywalker · 05-07-2007, 11:37 AM

AA will win as long as he doesnt face a good striker. so to answer ur question, depends on who is champ.

Once he gets tagged, example:
vs. Sylvia
Vs. Werdum

he gets really gunshy and is hesitant to let his hands fly. if he fights a grappler like GG or Randy, i think AA will win decisively.

rmpgslam · 05-07-2007, 11:38 AM

It would be nice to see him get another shot. I don't know if he will ever be champ again tho

BlazerSwan · 05-07-2007, 11:38 AM

I hope so!! he is one of my fav's, although he hasnt look spectacular in his last few fights. I thought he did good adainst werdum, people thought it sucked, but he played it safe and smart and got a decision....remeber koscheck's plan? yeah it wasnt a great fight but it got him the victory. just because they dont have highlite reel ko's every single fight, doesnt make em a bad fighter

WAR ARLOVSKI!! NEW HW CHAMP 2008

Bring On Fedor · 05-07-2007, 11:39 AM

I think that his perceived "timidness" comes more from bad style match ups then Arlovski's loss of killer instinct. Werdum can be more of a counter fighter, and Sylvia likes to fight from the outside and use his jab.

With all of the upsets happening this year, it would be foolish to think that someone with Arlovski's power and handspeed doesn't have a chance to beat Cro Cop, Gonzaga, Randy, or Nogueria.

CottonPlanter** · 05-07-2007, 11:40 AM

AA is one of my favorite guys, but HW is just too stacked right now. I don't see him winning the title back again.

holyhoward · 05-07-2007, 11:41 AM

Never say never... I think he could do it if he was just a little less gunshy...

Dramacydal · 05-07-2007, 11:42 AM

I think he can be champ again ... he can beat Sylvia.. i think he can beat Randy and Gonzaga ... and after seeing Cro-Cops last two fights AA could probably put up a good performance there as well.

He has looked less impressive recently but to be fair ... the competition has gone up ... there is a huge difference between fighting Werdum, PDP and Sylvia ... than it is Cabbage, Eilers and Freeman.

It happens with a lot of fighters... Rampage looked great destroying Ishikawa, Satake, Illohkine, minowa and Yokoi ... but since his level of competition has gone up he looked less impressive ... looked good against Chuck and Arona ... struggled against Wandy, Lindland and Busta.

Arlovksi is a top ten HW ... which means he will look good against people outside the top ten .. but will struggle within it.

CachorroLouco76 · 05-07-2007, 11:42 AM

AA has no chance of being HW champ again, the UFC HW div is insane now. It will be tough to be champ with fighters like Nog, Couture, Gonzaga, Crocop, Timmy, Pe de Pano, Vera, etc. I think that AA's champ days are over.