The loss bothers me, it hurts me. I have to do something about this. (Brett Rogers) had a good record, but I thought he was not the top like Fedor or Barnett. It was my mistake and when you make a mistake you have to pay for it. I took Rogers seriously, but I didn’t think the fight would have been this situation. I focused too much on boxing and not enough on the wrestling and jiu-jitsu. It wasn’t right. It’s another thing I have to think about. MMA is not boxing. I have to change something. I don’t understand this question about my chin. When you open your face for four or five punches it doesn’t matter your chin, you will get KOed. Rogers was great, he did what he did. I took the fight and I got my ass kicked, it’s that simple. It’s embarrassing, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I have to move on. I’m definitely going to come back.
—Andrei Arlovski speaking to his fans at Arlovski.com (via MMA Mania) about what went wrong in his stunning knockout loss to Brett Rogers.
Without a doubt that’s a tough one to swallow. I’d be more inclined to believe that Andrei’s boxing training hurt him more than helped if he had got schooled on the ground two fights in a row. Obviously, that wasn’t the case though. That said, it probably would be wise at this point to either focus all his attention on one sport or the other. Boxing isn’t MMA and MMA isn’t boxing.
I don’t doubt he’ll be back, but I’m also not sure exactly what path he needs to take to get there. But for starters, how about an opponent who doesn’t have the punching power to put his lights out for the third time in a row? Just a suggestion.
Image courtesy of Esther Lin (AllElbows.com) & Showtime
Update: Arlovski has been medically suspended for 60 days, and thus will miss his pro boxing debut on June 27.
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I cannot understand Andre’s or Steve Barry’s analysis that the “boxing” focus is what led to the loss or what is hurting him- boxing is about self defense, fainting, counterpunching and covering up effectively…frankly, I have not witnessed enough self defense posture in protecting his face in both the Brett or Fedor fights. Isn’t this what Freddie Roach, his boxing trainer, should have been focusing on in addition to striking? That said, Andre is still an exciting fighter and champion, and I look forward to his next outing and victory.
Where did I say boxing led to the loss or what is hurting him? I basically said I wasn’t buying that.
Yes Steve, I see the connotation of what you meant now and take back what I said about your particular statement.
Certainly Andre has made a public point on his focus on training changing to primarily boxing i.e. started with the Ben Rothwell fight; how Freddie Roach made him a different fighter; how he might even switch and enter the boxing profession etc. That said where was his focus on the sweet science of boxing i.e. the art of self defense?
Sorry man, didn’t mean to bite your head off. Caught me at a bad time.
I just don’t think he considered Rogers in his “league” with him be g the more expirienced fighter. I’m still wondering why he took this fight on short notice knowing he had a boxing match in a couple weeks?