Andrei Arlovski relieved after UFC Fight Night 120 win: 'Finally I broke the streak of losing'

NORFOLK, Va. – Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski relieved a significant amount of pressure from his shoulders Saturday when he snapped a five-fight losing skid with a decision victory over Junior Albini at UFC Fight Night 120.

Arlovski’s (26-15 MMA, 15-9 UFC) UFC career was likely on the line against Albini (14-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), but he managed to get back in the win column for the first time since September 2015 and credited sticking to his game plan for the result.

“Finally my hard work pays off and for the first time in a long, long time I stick to my game plan,” Arlovski told MMAjunkie after the fight. “It was not 100 percent, but 95 percent. I kept my hands up. Coach told me, ‘Don’t clinch,’ but I clinched a couple times. I’m very happy now.”

“The Pitbull” had many doubters going into UFC Fight Night 120, which took place at Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Va., and aired on FS1. His stretch of defeats came to the likes of UFC champ Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett, and Francis Ngannou, and a matchup with a hot prospect like Albini was a big test for the 38-year-old.

Arlovski’s experience played to his advantage, but he credited Albini for putting up a tough challenge.

“I have a lot of respect for Junior,” Arlovski said. “I came after the fight to the medical room, and I wished him luck in his future fights. Respect. Tonight it wasn’t personal, it was just business. Tonight I think I needed it more than he does. Of course I look for the KO, but my coach said when I go out, and I just need to keep my hands up. I did this pretty well.”

With 24 UFC bouts on his resume, Arlovski has fought the majority of big names in the heavyweight division. He believes he has a few more years of high-level competition left in him, and he said he will be willing to take on whoever UFC matchmakers throw his way.

“I want to go back home to my wife and my son, but I think I’ll be ready by February or March,” Arlovski said. “Of course it’s up to Dana White and the UFC. 2016 sucks for me, beginning and middle of the year in 2017 was same thing. Finally I broke the streak of losing fights.”

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 120, check out the UFC Events section of the site.