Andrei Arlovski's Improbable Return to Title Contention

As boos rumbled around the MGM Grand on Saturday night, a dejected looking Andrei Arlovski had his hand raised after a definite winner failed to emerge from his co-main event meeting with fellow former UFC champion, Frank Mir.

The bout hadn't brought the fireworks that many had expected. Both Mir and Arlovski have been enjoying a similar resurgence of late. After taking a year off after suffering four losses in a row, Mir showcased his knockout power to record back-to-back first round wins over Antonio 'Big Foot' Silva and Todd Duffee. Before Saturday's test against Mir, Arlovski himself claimed two knockout victories on the bounce against 'Big Foot', and in one of the most exciting rounds ever witnessed in the Octagon, against Travis Browne.

The Belarusian's return to the UFC had been a bit more of a tentative affair. Although there were quite a few people that thought it should have been Brendan Schaub's hand that was raised after their UFC 174 bout, Arlovski was giving the nod on the night.

In his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan on Saturday night, Arlovski explained that he had underestimated Mir—a notion that seems quite far-fetched given his proximity to a title shot.

"I'm disappointed and I didn't expect Frank to go hard for three rounds with me," said Arlovski as he shook his head. "That's why I'm disappointed. Like I said, I will not repeat. The fans, the crowd, you are right to boo me.

"I'm disappointed because I underestimated him, I thought he was going to be hurt in the first three minutes of the first round, but it's a victory, it's good. Let's clap for Mir because he is a great fighter. I wish him all the best."

You can understand the disappointment. The decision win was not the spectacular finish that was needed to propel him, or Mir, into the title picture. Arlovski was ranked fourth in the division before the win over Mir. Had the American been spread out on the canvas after eating a big right hand from 'The Pit Bull' akin to the shots that stopped Silva and Browne, maybe then, having already beaten Fabricio Werdum via decision at UFC 170, he would have enough grounds to call for a championship date.

Although the catcalls and jeers came thick and fast—some complained over the enjoyment factor of the contest, some for the decision, some for both—it has been quite an improbable journey back to the heavyweight top table for Arlovski.

The first version of Arlovski witnessed by UFC fans may have been one of the most exciting heavyweights they had seen at the point. Going 1-2 in his first three outings under the promotional, he debuted with a first round submission win over Aaron Brink in 2000, Arlovski proved that he had benefitted from the early losses as he claimed three stoppage wins in a row over Ian Freeman, Vladimir Matyushenko and Wesley Correira.

With UFC champion Mir sidelined after his career-threatening motorcycle accident, Arlovski claimed the interim heavyweight championship with a first ankle lock victory Tim Sylvia in 2005. It's hard to believe that the meeting took place ten years ago, and it makes it even more impressive considering Arlovski is once again climbing to the top of the bracket.

Arlovski defended the interim title with a spectacular KO of Justin Eilers before he was promoted to undisputed champion, which he defended against Paul Buentello. Sylvia then took the title off the Belarusian with first round TKO in 2006, and although a lot of people believed Arlovski would prevail in a rematch, Sylvia answered the critics with a decision win when they met in a rematch for the belt three months later.

Arlovski banked three more wins, most notably against Werdum, before leaving the banner in 2008. With further victories over Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson, he seemed to be in a prime position as he stepped in to face Fedor Emelianenko for the WAMMA title at Affliction: Day of Reckoning in January 2009. Despite a decent start for Arlovski, and over commitment on a flying knee was met by an overhand right from 'The Last Emperor' to end the bout in the first round.

Suffering three losses under the Strikeforce banner after the meeting with Fedor, it seemed Arlovski had come to the end of his career. The TKO defeat to Brett Rogers, the decision loss in his first meeting with 'Bigfoot' and the KO loss Sergei Kharitonov could have been the end for the former UFC champion. Arlovski became a bit of a journeyman after Strikeforce. While he did fly under the radar fighting for four different promotions before UFC re-signed him, he banked seven wins in eight outings with only Anthony Johnson taking a win off him via decision in March 2013.

The booing that rang out in Vegas on Saturday night was very much an immediate reaction to the contest that had taken place. Even though it wasn't pretty, and even though Dana White might not agree with the decision—four wins in four UFC heavyweight bouts is not to be sniffed at.

The chance to fight for the gold might not be the next for Arlovski, but another win against a top tier opponent in the division will nearly guarantee a shot for him. You can say all you want about the entertainment factor of Saturday night's co-main event, but you can't help but be impressed with Arlovski's reemergence at the top of UFC's heavyweight bracket 10 years after capturing his first belt for the promotion in 2005.