By Carlin Bardsley
The biggest fight in mixed martial arts this weekend is a heavyweight clash between Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia. Yes, you read that right. No, it isn’t 2006.
With UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones deciding to take his ball and go home, leaving an aborted UFC 151 in his wake, the spotlight shines on Southeast Asia’s ONE FC promotion and its event which will take place Friday.
Promoter Victor Cui has managed to put together a who’s who list of talent for ONE FC’s fifth event, to take place in Manila, Philippines in the same venue that held the legendary Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight almost 37 years ago. In addition to former UFC heavyweight champions Arlovski and Sylvia, the card also features Dream bantamweight Grand Prix winner Bibiano Fernandes, former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver, former UFC and Pride standout Phil Baroni and three members of the legendary Gracie clan, among others.
The matchup between Sylvia and Arlovski marks their fourth encounter, and the first one not to be contested for the UFC heavyweight championship. The two traded first-round stoppages in their first two fights, with Sylvia winning a decision in the rubber match at UFC 61 on July 8, 2006, in a fight that was less than aesthetically pleasing. They have continued their feud through the media over the years, volleying barbs back and forth while each insisting he wanted one more opportunity to take the other out.
The spotlight shines on the two perhaps when they need it most. Since leaving the UFC, both men’s fortunes have faded. Arlovski went on a four-fight losing streak in Affliction and Strikeforce, including highlight-reel KO losses to Fedor Emelianenko and Sergei Kharitonov. He has bounced back somewhat with two victories under the ProElite banner, but the foray against Sylvia marks his first attempt at even a mid-tier heavyweight since leaving Strikeforce.
Sylvia has fared marginally better, although it can be argued his “lows” beat those of Arlovski. The fighter known as “The Maine-iac” has amassed a 7-3 record since leaving Zuffa over a contract dispute. Most of those fights have been competed at super heavyweight, with Sylvia weighing in at over the 300-pound mark. He also suffered two high-profile first-round losses, one to boxer Ray Mercer and the other to TUF 10 alumnus Abe Wagner.
The height of Sylvia’s productivity since leaving the UFC may be his Twitter campaign to get back into the promotion. So far the campaign has proved unsuccessful, despite Sylvia retweeting every single supporter who broaches the idea. But Zuffa has apparently put Sylvia back on their radar, as it was heavily rumoured that he was being tapped to face Daniel Cormier in Strikeforce before Frank Mir was ultimately named as Cormier’s opponent.
The chance of a career resurgence for either Sylvia or Arlovski is what adds an extra layer of intrigue to a fourth instalment between the two. Both are still highly recognizable names and an impressive victory by either man could send them shooting up Zuffa’s heavyweight “want list.”
Both men are aware of this, and it adds fuel to the fire of what is already a personal grudge match. Their third fight notwithstanding, the two have shown a willingness to throw caution to the wind and engage each other, and it’s safe to assume that familiarity has only bred further contempt.
While it may not be Ali-Frazier III, Arlovski-Sylvia and the other fights on the card should prove to be an entertaining event for MMA fans “jonesing” for their fix this weekend (pun intended). The show is available on a live stream Friday morning on ONE FC’s website at the cost of just $9.95, with the free undercard starting at 8:30 a.m. ET. The main card may contain at least one former champion’s path to redemption.
