UFC 82 results Andrei Arlovski contract

The UFC 82 is finally over. Andrei Arlovski fought there and here is the video of Andrei Arlovski vs Jake O'Brien bout.

"Interesting" commentary, indeed... I don't even want to comment on all the thrown shit, which was intended to undermine Arlovski's skills - that's all regardless of Andrei being (in theory, judging from the fight performance and comparing to other fighters' late performance) the number one contender for the belt. I only want to comment on a guillotine issue: when Jake O'Brien and Heath Herring fought, Heath tried numerous times to choke O'Brien. It didn't worked and Herring lost that fight.

The situation with Andrei Arlovski and UFC is clearer than ever judging from the facts. They put him in a preliminary bouts, never showed his fight on PPV, didn't gave him a chance to talk on a post-fight press-conference, and made fight commentary so ugly and biased...

But let's look at the salaries fighters got (doesn't include PPV and unofficial bonuses) and look at the figures and facts, not the words.

Anderson Silva ($140,000) def. Dan Henderson ($100,000)
Heath Herring ($140,000) def. Cheick Kongo ($30,000) (great fight and another display of my MMA predictions for the year 2008 coming to life)
Chris Leben ($50,000) def. Alessio Sakara ($17,000)
Yushin Okami ($28,000) def. Evan Tanner ($25,000)
Jon Fitch ($60,000) def. Chris Wilson ($12,000)
Andrei Arlovski ($170,000) def. Jake O'Brien ($11,000)
Luigi Fioravanti ($16,000) def. Luke Cummo ($16,O00)
Josh Koscheck ($20,000) def. Dustin Hazelett ($12,000)
Diego Sanchez ($60,000) def. David Bielkheden ($8,000)
Jorge Gurgel ($14,000) def. John Halverson ($3,000)

Andrei Arlovski was the most highly paid athlete of UFC 82, even more that Anderson Silva and Dan Henderson! Other interesting titbit is Heath Herring's pay. I would never imagine that he gets the same amount of money as Anderson Silva does. How in hel did Heath get such a contract? Must have something to do with the old Pride contract and the transfer of Pride fighters to the UFC (Sebastian corrected this in the comments: Heath Herring left Pride for K-1 and went from K-1 to the WFA. WFA spent alot of money on fighter salaries. When the UFC bought the WFA they took over some of the contracts.). Does anyone knows when Anderson Silva's contract expires and how many fights does it have? Would be interesting to see how much Silva will get in a new contract. Must be hell of a boost!

It's interesting to read Andrei Arlovski's pre-fight interview to MMAJunkie.com

And while there's been a lot of speculation about a potential rift between the UFC and Arlovski's management team, neither side has confirmed it lately.

In fact, during Wednesday's pre-UFC 82 press conference, UFC president Dana White was asked about Arlovski and his whether he'll re-sign with the organization. Did the UFC's head honcho want to tag the heavyweight fighter with a parting shot?

Not so much.

"Andrei is a guy we want (in the UFC)," White said. "I think we'll get it done."

Arlovski is sure to have plenty of suitors, but it appears the UFC isn't willing to let him go so easily.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) contacted Arlovski for his side of the situation and conducted an e-mail interview. However, the 29-year-old Belarusian was tight-lipped about any potential hard feelings with the UFC or a possible departure for greener pastures. Basically, Arlovski is just happy to be fighting again.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: Let's start with the obvious big question: will this be your final fight in the UFC?

ANDREI ARLOVSKI: I hope not, but this question should really be directed with the UFC.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: During the past few months, UFC President Dana White has stated that you weren't "benched" and that you had, in fact, been offered fights in the UFC. Is this true? what were some of those fights?

ANDREI ARLOVSKI: It would be neither professional nor ethical for me to discuss conversations between Dana and my management team in public. Therefore, this question should be directed to Dana.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: Are you satisfied with the Jake O'Brien fight? Is this a fight you specifically wanted?

ANDREI ARLOVSKI: In my entire career I have never chosen my opponents. I am a UFC fighter and whomever they ask me to fight, I fight. Jake O'Brien is a very tough opponent with a perfect record. I look forward to be returning to the octagon.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: How would you characterize your current relationship with the UFC?

ANDREI ARLOVSKI: I have a very good working relationship with the UFC.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: I have to ask: do you feel like you're being punished since they put your fight on the UFC 82 preliminary card? This is the first time in the past 10 fights -- the first time in more than four years -- that you're on the preliminary card.

ANDREI ARLOVSKI: My job is to fight and do everything I can to win my fights. It is the UFC's job to promote, and it's up to them where they put my fight. I am a fighter, not a promoter.

(...)

I guess UFC doesn't really want him... So where does Andrei fight next? There has been many rumors, but they are only baseless rumors. At this point we only need to wait and see.