Andrei Arlovski drew widespread criticism this past week for comments he made regarding past opponent Anthony Johnson, in which he appeared to make an off-color joke about Johnson’s death in 2022.
During an interview with David Guttman, Arlovski spoke about his 2013 World Series of Fighting encounter against Johnson, who defeated Arlovski via unanimous decision. The former UFC champion disputed the scoring of the fight, then made the comment about Johnson that quickly went viral.
“I still think I won
that fight, but unfortunately judges gave to him victory,” Arlovski said. “But I win anyway, he’s dead, I’m alive.”
Watch the clip below, courtesy of Home of Fight.
On Saturday, Arlovski, a cancer survivor, apologized for his words and attempted to put them into perspective.
“I want to clear something up because I’ve been receiving a lot of hate over something I said in a recent interview about Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson,” Arlovski wrote in an Instagram caption. “Anthony beat me in the Octagon. That’s a fact and I have nothing but respect for him as a fighter.
“When I said that I was still a winner because I’m alive today – YES!!! I never meant that his passing was somehow my victory… That’s not who I am and that’s not what I believe. I’ve fought cancer three times myself. Three times I had to face an opponent much bigger than anything I’ve ever faced inside the Octagon. And believe me—when you’ve been through something like that, you understand how precious life really is.”
Johnson’s cause of death in 2022 was due to organ failure from a type of cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as an autoimmune disease. He was 38 years old. During his 15-year fighting career, Johnson twice competed for the UFC light heavyweight title, losing on both occasions to Daniel Cormier.
In his statement, Arlovski, a native of Belarus, also pointed to a language barrier as creating confusion around his remarks.
“English is my second language,” Arlovski wrote. “Sometimes the words that come out of my mouth don’t fully express what’s in my heart or my head. I take responsibility for how my words sounded, that’s actually second time I have to apologize for saying something wrong and I’m truly sorry to anyone I hurt or offended, only smart people who can use brains, especially Anthony’s family and loved ones.
“What I was trying to say is that the greatest victory in life isn’t about winning a fight. It’s about being alive, being grateful and having another chance to wake up tomorrow morning.”
Arlovski, 47, most recently competed in a bare-knuckle boxing match at BKFC Knuckle Mania 6 this past February, where he defeated Ben Rothwell to claim the promotion’s heavyweight title.
See Arlovski’s unedited statement below.
I want to clear something up because I’ve been receiving a lot of hate over something I said in a recent interview about Anthony “Rumble” Johnson.
Anthony beat me in the Octagon. That’s a fact and I have nothing but respect for him as a fighter !!!
When I said that I was still a winner because I’m alive today – YES !!!
I NEVER meant that his passing was somehow my victory … That’s not who I am and that’s not what I believe !!!I’ve fought cancer THREE TIMES myself. Three times I had to face an opponent much bigger than anything I’ve ever faced inside the Octagon.
And believe me – when you’ve been through something like that, , you understand how precious LIFE really is.
English is my second language. Sometimes the words that come out of my mouth don’t fully express what’s in my heart or my head . I take responsibility for how my words sounded , that’s actually 2d time I have to apologize for saying something wrong and I’m truly sorry to anyone I hurt or offended , only SMART PPL WHO CAN USE BRAINS 🧠 , especially Anthony’s family and loved ones !!!
What I was trying to say is that the greatest victory in life isn’t about winning a fight. It’s about being alive, being grateful and having another chance to wake up tomorrow morning !
None of us knows what tomorrow will bring !! Not me , Not you , Nobody !!!
Anthony won our fight. Nothing will ever change that.
Cancer is not a competition. Death is not a victory. LIFE is the GIFT .
Rest in peace, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson 🙏
