UFC 187 Results: 5 Fights for Andrei Arlovski

Andrei Arlovski and Travis Browne put on an exciting heavyweight showcase at UFC 187 on Saturday night. Arlovski had Browne hurt early and pressured him in the cage until Browne landed a massive shot of his own to drop the former champion.

The Pit Bull was able to pull himself together and gain the stoppage before the end of the first round. Now, the veteran of the Octagon can continue the rebirth of his career with these fight suggestions.

Junior dos Santos is a former champion who has remained relevant within the division after losing the belt nearly two years ago. Placing him against Arlovski would give both former champions an opportunity to move a step closer toward getting another shot at the title, without removing any of the up-and-coming contenders from consideration.

Arlovski has shown the ability to be one of the best strikers within the sport. Even when he was suffering through a losing streak, he still had the ability to land big shots against any opponent. Dos Santos is another heavy hitter within the division who has violently stopped opponents in the past. It would be interesting to see who has the better skill set between the two men. This is the type of fight that would give fans much to be excited about leading up to the contest.

Stipe Miocic sits in the fourth spot among all of the heavyweights on the UFC roster. His Dec. 2014 defeat at the hands of Dos Santos had pushed him back down the rankings and away from a title shot at the time, but he can work his way back up by putting together another string of wins.

The first step was annihilating Mark Hunt in May. Defeating Arlovski could be the next step.

Arlovski vs. Miocic would be another fight pitting two men against each other who have sharp striking technique. They both use combinations effectively to keep their opponents off balance and pile on the damage when they are hurt. Miocic uses takedowns more often, which would be an important aspect to this fight if he were to struggle on the feet. The winner of Arlovski vs. Miocic would be in a strong position to expect a title shot in the near future.

Alistair Overeem is a star in the heavyweight division for much of the work that he did while competing outside of the Octagon. While he has not performed up to standard since moving to the organization in 2011, he still attracts a lot of attention from the mainstream fanbase.

Overeem vs. Arlovski would pit two of the better-known heavyweight veterans against each other in what would be another striking affair. Overeem uses a more traditional kickboxing style compared to Arlovski, who leans more toward boxing.

It would be interesting to see if Overeem’s ability to cause damage with kicks and knees would disrupt the former champion’s game plan at any point. A win for either man would be key at this point in their careers.

Matt Mitrione is riding a three-fight win streak that has allowed him to move into the 12th spot in the UFC rankings. He has become a fan favorite for his ability to finish opponents in spectacular fashion and not being shy whenever a camera is placed in his face. If Mitrione is to be taken seriously within the division, this is the type of fight that he would need to win.

Arlovski has the ability to outstrike Mitrione if they were to stand in the pocket. However, the question would be whether or not The Pit Bull could handle Mitrione’s driving pressure. Even though Mitrione is ranked outside of the Top 10, this is the type of showcase win that Arlovski can add to his already impressive run to demand a shot at the champion after UFC 188.

Ben Rothwell is sitting in the No. 9 position within the weight class and is facing off against Mitrione in a few weeks. If he can win this fight, placing him against Arlovski would help determine which fighter is closer to a title shot in the near future.

Rothwell may not have the technique that many strikers in the sport have, but he does throw each punch with fight-ending power. Even though Arlovski has been on a great run as of late, the question remains whether or not his chin can take a shot. Rothwell has the power to test that theory in a fight that would be valuable for both men.