Arlovski and Patrycja Split; Game On

According to my man Andrei Arlovski's MySpace page, he and the lovely Patrycja are no longer. Both list themselves as "Single," and both seem to have taken down pictures of one another.

Come to think of it, she is my type...

Happy Birthday, Andrei Arlovski!!!

The big guy turns 29 today, and in tribute of one of my absolute favorites of all time, I'm wearing my Arlovski Team Pitbull t-shirt. No, I'm not kidding.

It's been an action-packed past twelve months for the former champ. He earned a decision win over the highly touted Fabricio Werdum, appeared on The Jerry Springer show, launched a series of signature LCD televisions, and left his fans (both of us) wondering where the hell he's been.

Speaking of which, it looks like Arlovski will return to the UFC cage next month at UFC 82 when he will face Jake O'Brien...as part of the undercard.

Happy Birthday, champ.

Arlovski Promises “Big News”

The following was posted earlier this week on Andrei Arlovski’s web site:

The past months since my win over Fabricio Werdum at UFC 70 have been very productive while I am waiting for my next fight in the UFC. Time off can be positive; it offers me time to rest my body while improving my technique in Boxing, Jui-Jitsu and freestyle wrestling.

The media, my sponsors and fans have been great. I recently appeared on Jerry Springer as a guest bouncer and it was a lot of fun for everyone. Chicago's MEN'S Book did a feature on my life and living in Chicago, DUB magazine is featuring my lifestyle and cars, and just about all the online MMA sites have been positive towards my goal to become Heavyweight champion again.

I want to thank my fans for their continued support. The messages I receive through myspace.com/arlovski, in the mail and on this site helps me keep focused and are nice to read between workouts.

Keep checking back, BIG NEWS IS AROUND THE CORNER.

A. Arlovski

Where's the Pitbull?

It's now been over five months since Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski defeated then top-ten heavyweight Fabricio Werdum at UFC 70. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't exciting, and as we all know (because Dana White told us), a lackluster or uninspired effort in the UFC's talent-laden heavyweight division will work against a fighter. Even if he wins.

Since sticking and moving his way past Werdum, Arlovski has barely been a blip on the radar, his name not even finding its way through the rumor mill. He'd been promoting his Pitbull Series signature Soyo LCD HDTVs, and he recently made a guest appearance on The Jerry Springer Show. But as for returning to the octagon...nothing.

Pitbull, I'm speaking directly to you now. I saw you on Springer. You seemed to be in shape, and I liked the fashionable mullet thing you had. Here's an idea: stay off of day-time TV, stop waxing your chest, grow out the beard, and start working aggressively to get back in the octagon. The Brandon Veras and the Rodrigo Nogueiras of the division are already looking at you in the rear-view mirror, so giddyup.

You and I are both handsome, hairy 28-year-olds whose families come from Minsk. You've been a favorite fighter of mine since you first came to the UFC, and I need another reason to keep explaining to people why you're one of my favorites. Don't make me look stupid.

Speaking of which, I read a release in which explained your recent Jerry Springer Show appearance: "I love Chicago and did not know Jerry Springer filmed here. When I was asked to be a special guest on the show, it sounded like it could be fun for me and my fans."

Know what else would be fun for your fans? Watching you kick the shit out of someone!

I'm sorry, Andrei. I don't mean to yell. Besides, if there's a silver lining to the inordinate amount of time that you've been without an opponent, it's that you don't seem to have any of the financial woes that (indirectly) drove Hermes Franca to steroids or that compel Butterbean to fight 5 times in seven months.

And speaking of money, I'm hearing things, specifically that you have one fight left on your contract and that you're asking for a big pay raise. I don't want to mention that 1) you're 2-2 in your last 4 UFC fights, 2) you didn't exactly set off any fireworks in your last win, and 3) the UFC can make big-time heavyweight matches without you. So I'll let someone else bring that up.

Dana White's UFC 74 Conference Call

Sam Caplan of FiveOuncesOfPain.com participated in a conference call earlier today conducted by UFC president Dana White in an effort to promote UFC 74. Among other things, White touched upon the following points:

- Brandon Vera has signed a new deal with the UFC, and Tim Sylvia will "probably" be his next opponent. The contract issues that kept Vera out of the UFC were between Vera and his management, not Vera and the UFC.

- Andrei Arlovski will be fighting soon. Because so many matches are being put together at the moment, White could not say when or against whom Arlovski would fight next.

- Wanderlei Silva is not yet signed, and White did not want to comment any further on deals that have not been finalized.

- No developments with Fedor Emelianenko seem to have been made, but White said that if he were signed, he'd be competing right away for the title.

To read more of Caplan's UFC 74 conference call recap, click here.

Remember Him?

It's now four months since his last UFC fight, and the UFC has yet to schedule another match for former UFC champ and Kodiak MMA favorite Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski.

I remember the days - just a few months ago, actually - when the UFC heavyweight division was starving for talent. Now, it seems that they can do without guys like Arlovski and Brandon Vera. Not bad...

Knocking on the Door

For the time being, we all know who will be challenging for UFC championship honors: Randy Couture will defend his heavyweight strap against Gabriel Gonzaga next month, light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is set to face Pride champ Dan Henderson in a unification bout at UFC 75, lightweight champ Sean Sherk will defend his belt against BJ Penn (most likely) at UFC 78, Matt Hughes hopes to regain the welterweight belt against Matt Serra at UFC 79, and Anderson Silva and Rich Franklin will fight once again for middleweight honors at UFC 77.

Beyond that, however, the top contenders are not as clearly established. Kodiak MMA has therefore put together a quick list of fighters who could - and should - be just one or two more wins away from a title match.

Karo "The Heat" Parisyan
The glamorous UFC welterweight division is loaded with young and veteran talent, and a case can be made that a number of 170-pounders deserve a title shot. None, however, are more deserving at the moment than Karo. Granted, Karo will have to wait in line for things to unfold within the division. The winner of the GSP/Josh Koscheck fight at UFC 74 will face the winning Matt (Serra vs. Hughes) for the title, and after that, it should be Karo’s turn.

Karo is 8-2 in the UFC with impressive UFC wins against Josh Burkman, Drew Fickett, Chris Lytle, Nick Thompson, Shonie Carter, Nick Diaz, and welterweight champ Matt Serra. His only UFC losses have come to former champion Georges St. Pierre, and to Diego Sanchez in what was arguably the best fight of 2006.

Karo has shown a propensity to slug it out with any and all challengers, and he continues to thrill MMA fans with his peerless Judo prowess.

Jon Fitch
Fitch carries a sparkling 6-0 resume and has earned stoppage wins over tough competition: Josh Burkman, Luigi Fioravanti, Thiago Alves, Roan Carniero, and WEC top welterweight contender Brock Larson.

For me, Fitch is in the same boat as Karo Parisyan, which is why I’d much prefer that Fitch fight Karo – not Diego Sanchez – at UFC 76 in September. Nonetheless, with a win over Sanchez at UFC 76, it’ll be hard for the UFC to keep the Indiana native out of the championship spotlight.

Joe “Daddy” Stevenson
If you haven’t figured it out by now, Joe “Daddy” is a favorite here at Kodiak MMA, even though he beat beloved Long Island product Luke “The Silent Assassin” Cummo.

Stevenson, the Ultimate Fighter Season One winner, sports a very solid 27-7 MMA record and has known defeat just once in the UFC octagon. With a win against Kurt Pellegrino next month, Joe Daddy should be next in line for a lightweight title shot against BJ Penn or Sean Sherk. Like Sherk, Stevenson is an exceptionally powerful grappler who smothers his opponents and eventually proves to be too much man.

Since dropping down to 155 lbs., Stevenson has looked more impressive than ever. He choked the shit out of Dokonjonosuke Mishima in the opening round at and then did the same to the very powerful, very annoying Melvin Guillard.

Kenny Florian
Florian battled – and battered – UFC lightweight champ Sean Sherk for the vacant 155-lb. belt, and showed a remarkably improved Muy Thai arsenal in defeat. He has since continued to fight well as a welterweight, submitting Dokonjonosuke Mishima in April and absolutely destroying Ring of Fire lightweight champion Alvin Robinson at UFC 73 with strikes in the very first round. Florian, a Boston College graduate, has demonstrated a knack for finishing fights and seems to be only getting better.

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
If you’ve never seen Shogun fight, you’re missing out. Actually, if you've never seen a Shogun fight, stop reading this post right now and go find some online video of him somewhere.

The Chute Boxe product is widely regarded as the top 205-lb. fighter alive, and he brings a ferocious style of Muay Thai kickboxing that the UFC light heavyweight division has never seen. With Rua’s already expansive fan base and dominant wins over Ricardo Arona, Alistair Overeem (twice), Kevin Randleman, Antonio Rogiero Nogueira, and UFC LHW champ Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, don’t be surprised to see him in the championship mix within the next few months if he makes it past Forrest Griffin.

Then again, if UFC brass plans to pave an easy road for Chuck Liddell to get back to championship contention, our boy Shogun is definitely not someone against whom The Iceman would be pitted along the way.

Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski
I know, I know. He scored a questionable win over Marcio Cruz at UFC 66 and then bored the balls off of us against Fabricio Werdum at UFC 70. The fact remains that Arlovski is one of the division’s most explosive, athletically gifted fighters, and his only UFC losses have come to fighters who have at some point worn UFC heavyweight championship gold.

Plus, notable names like Cro Cop, Tim Sylvia, “Minotauro” Nogueira, and Brandon Vera are either coming off of losses or need to rack up a few more wins before fighting for the belt. In addition, the pressure is on Pitbull to perform, whose title shot against the Couture-Gonzaga winner was rescinded by UFC president Dana White after his (Arlovski’s) lackluster match with Werdum.

Arlovski has the tools to beat just about any heavyweight anywhere, and with one more win, his name should once again be atop the list of title contenders.

Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove
The Hawaiian-born middleweight and Team Punishment fighter has been impressive since winning the Ultimate Fighter Season Three reality show, earning submission wins over Chris Price (strikes) and Alan Belcher (choke).

The 6’6” Grove is a true mixed martial artist, combining dangerous submission skills with a dangerous arsenal of strikes. He might not be a household name, but Kendall Grove’s talent and popularity, as well as the relatively shallow talent pool at 185 lbs., make him a likely title contender in the near future.